Definition

To raise one end of something so that it stands almost straight up.

Example

The sailor had to cockbill the sail to catch the wind properly.

Tense Forms

Conversation

Did you see how he cockbilled the boat to catch the wind?

Yeah, that was a clever move!

I never thought about how tilting it like that could help.

It definitely makes a difference in speed.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cockbill is formed from "cock" (from Old English "coc", meaning a male bird, especially a rooster) and "bill" (from Old English "bylle", meaning a beak or bill). The term originally referred to the position of a ship's bow being raised, resembling a rooster's head with its beak pointed upwards.

Memory Tip

Imagine a rooster ('cock') with its beak ('bill') raised high — that's how 'cockbill' describes a ship's bow positioned upward.

Visually Confused Words