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.]
1. Falconry
A thong of soft leather to bind up a hawk's wing.
2. pl. Naut.
Ropes passing through pulleys, and used to haul in or up the leeches, bottoms, or corners of sails, preparatory to furling.
3.
A stock at each end of a seine to keep it stretched.
© Webster 1913.
Brail, v. t. Naut.
To haul up by the brails; -- used with up; as, to brail up a sail.
© Webster 1913.