·noun A fore-and-aft sail, bent to a gaff, and hoisted on a lower mast or on a small mast, called the trysail mast, close abaft a lower mast;
— used chiefly as a storm sail. Called also spencer.
A reduced sail used by small craft in lieu of their main-sail during a storm. Also, a fore-and-aft s...
The Sailor's Word-Book
A fore-and-aft sail, hoisted by a gaff, but having no boom at its foot, and only used in foul weathe...
A spar abaft the fore and main mast, for hoisting the trysail. ...