Naut. [Perhaps of similar origin to prec.] A fore-and-aft sail, set with a gaff, serving as a trysail to the fore or main mast of a vessel.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, v. We had got her down to close-reefed topsails, double-reefed trysail, and reeled fore spenser.
1851. Kipping, Sailmaking (ed. 2), 5. There are the fore-trysail, main-trysail, and mizen-trysail, or as they are sometimes called the fore-spencer, Duke of York or main-spencer, and storm-mizen.
1860. Maury, Phys. Geog. Sea, xix. § 807. At 8 p.m. … hove to under close-reefed main top-sail and spencer.
attrib. 1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, v. The chief mate … was standing … at the foot of the spenser-mast. Ibid., xxv. The captain ordered the fore and main spencer gaffs to be lowered down.
