n. 1. One of several small ropes attached to the leech of a sail for drawing the sail in or up. 2. A small net for drawing fish from a trap or a larger net into a boat. tr.v. brailed, brail·ing, brails 1. To gather in (a sail) with brails. 2. To haul in (fish) with a brail. [Middle English braile, from Old French brail, belt, from Medieval Latin brācale, from Latin brācae, breeches; see BRACKET.] |
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