Where does “spritsail” come from?

spritsail (English) comes from English sail, from Middle English saile, from Proto-Germanic seglą, from Proto-Germanic siglą.

spritsail (English): A form of three- or four-sided fore-and-aft sail...

Definitions

  1. A form of three- or four-sided fore-and-aft sail...

Ancestry of “spritsail”, step by step

spritsail traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English sail

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsailA piece of fabric attached to a boat and arranged...
2Middle EnglishsaileAlternative form of assailen
3Proto-Germanicsegląsheet; sail
4Proto-Germanicsiglą

via English sprit

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishspritA spar between mast and upper outer corner of a...
2Middle Englishsprutten
3Old Englishspryttanto spring, sprout, germinate; to put forth the...
4Proto-Indo-European(s)per-to strew, sow, sprinkle; to sow, sprinkle, strew;...
Every word from Proto-Germanic sigląEvery word from Proto-Germanic segląEvery word from Middle English saile