or BRAILS, in a ship, are small ropes made use of to furl the sails across; they belong only to the two courses and the mizen-sail; they are reeved through the blocks, seized on each side the ties, and come down before the sail, being at the very skirt thereof fastened to the cringles; their use is, when the sail is furled across, to haul up its bunt, that it may the more easily be taken up or let fall. Hale up the brails, or brail up the sail; that is, Hale up the sail, in order to be furled or bound close to the yard.