bunt of a sail

The Sailor's Word-Book

The middle part of it, formed designedly into a bag or cavity, that the sail may gather more wind. It is used mostly in top-sails, because courses are generally cut square, or with but small allowance for bunt or compass. "The bunt holds much leeward wind;" that is, it hangs much to leeward. In "handed" or "furled" sails, the bunt is the middle gathering which is tossed up on the centre of the yard.


♦ To bunt a sail is to haul up the middle part of it in furling, and secure it by the bunt-gasket.

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