Meaning of strike sail | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To lower the sails (in preparation for dropping anchor, to salute or signal submission, in sudden gusts of wind, etc.).
   archaic
2. To acknowledge one's inferiority (to another person); to abate pretension.
   figuratively, obsolete

Examples

“[…] at the last, famine and other necessities, caused them in the ende to strike sayle and let fall anker.”

“1627, John Donne, Sermon 24 in Fifty Sermons, London: M.F. et al., Volume 2, 1649, p. 202, […] a ship which hath struck Sail, will yet goe on with the winde it had before, for a while,”

“It was accounted Treason, if any Ship whatsoëver had not acknowledged the Dominion of the King of England in his own Sea, by striking Sail:”

“So many new unexpected accidents happen every hour, which no wit of man could foresee; that may make it necessary for us many times to depart from our former most advised resolutions: as the Mariner must strike sail again, (perhaps when he hath but newly hoyst it up,) if the winde and weather change.”

“[…] O friend, never strike sail to a fear. Come into port greatly, or sail with God the seas.”

“(obsolete)”

“O that the living Harry had the temper Of he, the worst of these three gentlemen! How many nobles then should hold their places That must strike sail to spirits of vile sort!”

“Let vaunting Knowledge now strike sail, And unto modest Ign’rance vail.”

“[…] do you think, Sir, that Mr. Ironsides, who has been well bred, a good Scholar, and a topping Wit, will ever strike Sail to a Fool[?]”

“I speak in the house of my friend as in my own, and strike sail to none.”

CEFR level