noun
sheet rope; tack rope
Nautical term for the rope that secures the lower corner of a sail to the hull on a traditional Japanese ship. Rare outside specialized contexts.
和船では、帆足を引いて帆の角度を調節する。
On a Japanese-style ship, they adjust the sail angle by pulling the sheet rope.
Compound of 帆 (ho, 'sail') and 足 (ashi, 'foot'), referring to the rope at the foot of the sail. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.