Where does “skysail” come from?

skysail (English) comes from English sky, from Middle English sky, from Old Norse ský, from Proto-Germanic skiwją, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewH- — to cover, bedeck; cover.

skysail (English): The sail set next above the royal

Definitions

  1. The sail set next above the royal

Ancestry of “skysail”, step by step

skysail traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English sky

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishskyThe atmosphere above a given point, especially as...
2Middle EnglishskyThe atmosphere or sky; that which lies above the...
3Old Norseskýcloud
4Proto-Germanicskiwjącloud; sky
5Proto-Indo-European(s)kewH-to cover, bedeck; cover

via English sail

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsailA piece of fabric attached to a boat and arranged...
2Middle EnglishsaileAlternative form of assailen
3Proto-Germanicsegląsheet; sail
4Proto-Germanicsiglą—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic skiwją →Every word from Old Norse ský →