ˈdownhaul Naut.
(-hɔːl)
[f. down adv. + haul v.]
(See quot. 1867.)
| 1669 Sturmy Mariner's Mag. 17 All down upon your doone hall. 1727 Swift Gulliver ii. i, We belayed the fore downhaul. 1840 R. H. Dana Bef. Mast v. 11, I..sprang forward, threw the downhaul over the windlass. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Down-haul, a rope passing up..to the upper corner of the sail to pull it down when shortening sail. Also..to the outer yard-arms of studding-sails, to take them in securely. |
b. attrib. downhaul tackle (see quot. 1867).
| 1762 Falconer Shipwr. ii. 319 Below the down-haul tackle others ply. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Down-haul tackles, employed when lower yards are struck to..prevent them from swaying about after the trusses are unrove. |