What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Sail vs Trimmer - What's the difference?

sail | trimmer |

In context|nautical|lang=en terms the difference between sail and trimmer

is that sail is (nautical) a piece of fabric attached to a boat and arranged such that it causes the wind to drive the boat along the sail may be attached to the boat via a combination of mast, spars and ropes while trimmer is (nautical) a member of the crew who trims the sails.

As nouns the difference between sail and trimmer

is that sail is (nautical) a piece of fabric attached to a boat and arranged such that it causes the wind to drive the boat along the sail may be attached to the boat via a combination of mast, spars and ropes while trimmer is one who trims, arranges, fits, or ornaments.

As a verb sail

is to be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body of water by steam or other power.

As an adjective trimmer is

(trim).

sail

English

(wikipedia sail)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) 'to cut'. More at saw.

Noun

(en noun)
  • (nautical) A piece of fabric attached to a boat and arranged such that it causes the wind to drive the boat along. The sail may be attached to the boat via a combination of mast, spars and ropes.
  • * : Scene 1: 496-497
    • When we have laugh'd to see the sails conceive / And grow big-bellied with the wanton wind;
  • (uncountable) The power harnessed by a sail or sails, or the use this power for travel or transport.
  • A trip in a boat, especially a sailboat.
    • Let's go for a sail .
  • (dated) A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft. Plural sail .
    • Twenty sail were in sight.
  • The blade of a windmill.
  • A tower-like structure found on the dorsal (topside) surface of submarines.
  • The floating organ of siphonophores, such as the Portuguese man-of-war.
  • (fishing) A sailfish.
    • We caught three sails today.
  • (paleontology) an outward projection of the
  • Anything resembling a sail, such as a wing.
  • * Spenser
    • Like an eagle soaring / To weather his broad sails .
    Hyponyms
    * See also
    Derived terms
    * balloon sail * by sail * drag sail * dragon sail * point of sail * sailback * sailboard * sailboat * sailcloth * sailer * sailfish * sailing * studding sail * set sail * take the wind out of someone's sails * topsail * working sail

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) , cognate to earlier Middle Low German segelen and its descendant Low German sailen.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body of water by steam or other power.
  • To move through or on the water; to swim, as a fish or a waterfowl.
  • To ride in a boat, especially a sailboat.
  • To set sail; to begin a voyage.
    • We sail for Australia tomorrow.
  • To move briskly and gracefully through the air.
  • * Shakespeare
    • As is a winged messenger of heaven, / When he bestrides the lazy pacing clouds, / And sails upon the bosom of the air.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=April 15 , author=Saj Chowdhury , title=Norwich 2 - 1 Nott'm Forest , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=A hopeful ball from Forest right-back Brendan Moloney to the left edge of the area was met first by Ruddy but his attempted clearance rebounded off Tyson's leg and sailed in.}}
  • To move briskly.
    • Derived terms
    * sail close to the wind

    Anagrams

    * English ergative verbs 1000 English basic words ----

    trimmer

    English

    Adjective

    (head)
  • (trim)

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who trims, arranges, fits, or ornaments.
  • A device used to trim.
  • (nautical) a member of the crew who trims the sails.
  • Someone who fluctuates between opposing factions, political parties etc., according to current interest.
  • * 1848 , (Baron Macaulay), History of England , I.2:
    • Thus Halifax was a Trimmer on principle.
  • * 2011 , Thomas Penn, Winter King , Penguin 2012, p. 9:
    • Lady Margaret Beaufort's third husband, Lord Stanley, an accomplished political trimmer , gave fair words but little commitment: the vast, well-armed Stanley retinues shadowed Henry's route southeast to the battlefield and waited, detached, to see how the chips fell.
  • (architecture) A beam into which are framed the ends of headers in floor framing, as when a hole is to be left for stairs, or to avoid bringing joists near chimneys.