double-reef, v.
Chiefly in pa. pple. double-reefed (also 8 -rift).
trans. To reduce the spread of (a sail) by taking in two reefs. Hence double-reef n., e.g. ‘in double-reefs of the topsails’ = with the topsails double-reefed.
| 1703 W. Dampier Voy. III. iii. 133 It would blow..so that we could scarce carry our Top-sails double rift. 1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World (1757) 4 At noon we set the main⁓sail double-reefed. 1833 Marryat P. Simple xv, We were obliged to double-reef the topsails..and the weather looked very threatening. 1857 in Merc. Mar. Mag. (1858) V. 8 At daylight, in double-reefs of the top-sails. |