Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

sail

/seɪl/ noun

In Latin: vēlum Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about sail at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel.
An ocean trip taken for pleasure.
Any structure that resembles a sail.

verb

Traverse or travel on (a body of water).
We sailed the Atlantic
Move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions.
The diva swept into the room
Travel on water propelled by wind.
I love sailing, especially on the open sea

Origin

From Middle English saile, sayle, seil, seyl, from Old English seġl, from Proto-West Germanic *segl, from Proto-Germanic *seglą. Cognate with West Frisian seil, Low German Segel, Dutch zeil, German Segel, Danish sejl, Swedish segel.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word