la-teen(Of a ship) rigged with a lateen sail. [French (voile) latine 'Latin (sail)', because common in the Mediterranean].
a triangular fore-and-aft sail used especially in the Mediterranean
Triangular sails, on long yards (spars or poles), set at a 45° angle from the mast.
A lateen (from a la trina, meaning triangular) is a triangular sail set on a long yardarm mounted at an angle on the mast, and running in a fore-and-aft direction. Originally found on sailing ships, the lateen is used today in a slightly different form on small boats like the highly popular Sunfish.