nautical The forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail that is next to the mast.

The act of sailing close to the wind.

Sail close to the wind.

synonym: point.

Roget 267: sail; put to sea etc. (depart) 293; take ship, get under way; set sail, spread sail, spread canvas; gather way, have way on; make sail, carry sail; plow the waves, plow the deep, plow the main, plow the ocean; walk the waters.    navigate, warp, luff^†, scud, boom, kedge; drift, course, cruise, coast; hug the shore, hug the land; circumnavigate.    ply the oar, row, paddle, pull, scull, punt, steam.    swim, float; buffet the waves, ride the storm, skim, effleurer [Fr.], dive, wade.    fly, be wafted, hover, soar, flutter, jet, orbit, rocket; take wing, take a flight, take off, ascend, blast off, land, alight; wing one's flight, wing one's way; aviate; parachute, jump, glide.    ... show more

Dutch: loeven

Flap when the wind is blowing equally on both sides.