brail

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

brail, n. [OE. brayle furling rope, OF. braiol a band placed around the breeches, fr.F. braies, pl., breeches, fr. L. braca, bracae, breeches, a Gallic word; cf. Arm. bragez. Cf. Breeches.].

•  A thong of soft leather to bind up a hawk's wing.  [1913 Webster]
•  Ropes passing through pulleys, and used to haul in or up the leeches, bottoms, or corners of sails, preparatory to furling.  [1913 Webster]
•  A stock at each end of a seine to keep it stretched.  [1913 Webster]

brail, v. t. 

 To haul up by the brails; -- used with up; as, to brail up a sail.  [1913 Webster]