ἱστίον,τό( Dim. of
ἱστόςin form only),
A. web, cloth, sheet: hence in pl.,hangings, LXX Ex. 27.9 , 15 ; as a measure,piece,
PRyl. 70.25
(ii B.C.); but,
II. from Hom. downwds.,sail, mostly in pl.ἱστία, ἕλκον δ' ἱστία λευκὰ . . βοεῦσινthey hauledthemup with ox-hide ropes, Od. 2.426 ;τέταθ' ἱστία the sailswere spread, 11.11 , cf. Pi. N. 5.51 ;ἱστία στέλλεσθαι, μηρύεσθαι, καθελεῖν, to lower or furlsail(v. sub vocc.): λύειν
Od. 15.496
; ἱστίοισι χρᾶσθαι
Hdt. 4.110
; ἄκροισι χρώμενος τοῖς ἱστίοις
Ar. Ra. 1000
: prov.,πλήρεσιν ἱ. under fullsail,with all one's might, Philostr. VS 1.25.5 , cf. Suid. : rarely in sg., ἐν δ' ἄνεμος πρῆσεν μέσον ἱστίον
Il. 1.481
; ἐξίει ἱ. ἀνεμόεν