Standard Lemma guide

lateen

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ləˈtiːn/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /læˈtiːn/
  • US: /ləˈtin/
  • rhymes with -iːn

1

noun

Meaning 1

A triangular fore-and-aft sail set on a boom in such way that the tack is attached to the hull of the vessel and the free end of the boom lifts the sail.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: nautical, transport

Examples

  • 1995, George F. Hourani, John Carswell, Arab Seafaring in the Indian Ocean in Ancient and Early Medieval Times, Princeton University Press, Expanded Edition, page 103, The mere fact that this type of lateen no longer exists in the Mediterranean proves nothing; it is always possible that it might have originated there and later given way there to the still superior triangular form. But there are more substantial reasons for believing that the lateen came from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean. The earliest evidence of the existence of lateens in the Mediterranean is in Greek Byzantine manuscripts of the late ninth century, which show drawings of lateens (Plates 5 and 6).

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

rigged with a triangular (lateen) sail

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lateen-rigged

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a triangular fore-and-aft sail used especially in the Mediterranean

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lateen sail

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: fore-and-aft sail

History

Etymology

From French latine (“Latin”).

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: триъгълно платно (triǎgǎlno platno) — sail
  • Finnish: latinalaispurje — sail
  • French: voile latine — sail
  • German: Lateinersegel — sail
  • Greek: λατίνι (latíni) — sail
  • Italian: vela latina — sail
  • Māori: rā kaupāparu — sail
  • Polish: żagiel łaciński — sail
  • Portuguese: vela latina — sail
  • Portuguese: latina — sail
  • Russian: лати́нский па́рус (latínskij párus) — sail
  • Spanish: vela latina — sail
  • Swedish: latinsegel — sail