# crowd sail

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/crowd-sail
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To carry an unusual amount of sail in an attempt to accelerate the speed of a vessel.

## Examples

- The captain decided to crowd sail to reach the port before dark.
- To catch the fleeing ship, the commander ordered his crew to crowd sail despite the rising winds.
- Desperate to outrun the approaching storm, the sailors chose to crowd sail, pushing the vessel to its absolute physical limit.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.