Lateen vs. Dhow — What's the Difference?

A lateen (from French latine, meaning "Latin") or latin-rig is a triangular sail set on a long yard mounted at an angle on the mast, and running in a fore-and-aft direction. Dating back to Roman navigation, the lateen became the favorite sail of the Age of Discovery, mainly because it allows a boat to tack "against the wind".

Dhow (Arabic: داو‎, romanized: dāwa; Marathi: dāw) is the generic name of a number of traditional sailing vessels with one or more masts with settee or sometimes lateen sails, used in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean region. Historians are divided as to whether the dhow was invented by Arabs or Indians.

Being, relating to, or rigged with a triangular sail hung on a long yard that is attached at an angle to the top of a short mast.

Any of various lateen-rigged sailing vessels with one or two masts, used especially along the eastern coast of Africa.

A lateen-rigged boat.

(nautical) A traditional sailing vessel used along the coasts of Arabia, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean, generally having a single mast and a lateen sail.

A lateen sail.

A coasting vessel of Arabia, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean. It has generally but one mast and a lateen sail.

(nautical) 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.

A lateen-rigged sailing vessel used by Arabs

Of or pertaining to a peculiar rig used in the Mediterranean and adjacent waters, esp. on the northern coast of Africa; pertaining to a lateen sail. See below.

Rigged with a triangular (lateen sail).

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

Rigged with a triangular (lateen) sail