Definition

Noun

  • A large jib topsail carried on some American racing yachts.

Origin

Late 19th century. British English. Named after the American use of the sail.

Comments

Apart from the usual American meaning, a yankee is similar to a genoa, but with a narrower cut, a higher clew, and a leech that doesn’t overlap the mainsail. These can be used in winds up to force 4 on the Beaufort scale.

References

Kemp, P. (1994). The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. Oxford University Press.

Rogers, J.G. (1985). Origins of Sea Terms. Mystic Seaport.