Nautical Term: Settle
Definition of Settle
To cause a sail or vessel to assume a stable and secure position, often by lowering or allowing it to sink deeper into the water.
For example, during a storm, the captain might order the sails to be settled. This would involve lowering the sails to reduce their surface area exposed to the wind, which would help to stabilize the vessel and prevent it from being tossed about by the waves.
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