genoa
genoa Lexical Profile
genoa Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A major port city in northwestern Italy and the capital of the Liguria region, situated on the Gulf of Genoa in the Ligurian Sea.
A large jib or staysail that overlaps the mainmast, commonly used on racing and cruising yachts to increase speed in light to moderate winds.
"The crew scrambled to hoist the genoa as the wind shifted, aiming to maximize their speed on the final leg of the regatta."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the Italian city, 'Genoa' is capitalized as a proper noun; when referring to the type of sail, it is typically treated as a common noun and lowercased.
Word Origin & Etymology
The name for the sail derives directly from the city of Genoa, Italy, where this type of overlapping jib was famously and successfully used in a 1926 regatta by Swedish sailor Sven Salén. The city's name comes from Latin 'Genua'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.