What does topsail mean?
A sail set above the fore-and-aft sails on a square-rigged ship, or a sail set above the mainsail on a fore-and-aft rig. Topsails are used to catch the wind above the main sails.
Example
"The captain ordered the crew to raise the topsail to catch the wind."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.