headsail

Naut.: A foresail. For purposes of maneuvering ships, the sails are distinguished into head and after sails; head-sails comprehending all sails whose centers lie before the general center of effort of all the sails, and after-sails all whose centers lie abaft that point. head-sea, s. A sea which runs directly against the head of a ship, or rolls against her course. "With a heavy head - sea that prevented our sailing, even when we got a start."-Lord Duffer in : Letters from High Latitudes . *head-silver, s. The same as HEAD PENCE (q. v.). *head-sin, s. Capital or deadly sin. head-timber, s. Ship build .: A crooked timber in the frame of a ship's head, to support the gratings; a bracket. head-valve, s. Steam-engine: The delivering-valve; the upper air-pump valve.