<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>Nautical: any of several horizontal lines fastened to the edge of a fore-and-aft sail or lateen sail, for gathering in the sail.</li><li>a leather binding for a hawk's wings, to prohibit flight.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>(used with object) Nautical: to gather or haul in (a sail) by means of brails (usually followed by up).</li><li>to transfer (fish) from a net to the hold of a ship.</li><li>to bind (the wings of a bird) in order to prevent it from flying.</li></ul>