Obs. [str. pa. pple. of FLOW v.] Only in Flown sheet: see quot. 1653. also fig. Cf. FLOWING ppl. a. 5 b.
1626. Capt. Smith, Accid. Yng. Seamen, 28. A flown sheate. Ibid. (1653), Seaman’s Gram., 39. A flowne sheat, that is, when they are not haled home to the blocke…. A flowne sheat is when she goes before the winde, or betwixt a paire of sheats, or all sailes drawing.
1697. Dampier, Voy., I. 111. We could have sailed with a flown sheet to Ria Lexa.
1748. Anson’s Voy., I. x. 98. The sheets being half flown, ever seam in the top-sails was soon split from top to bottom.
