mackerel sky and mare's-tails make lofty ships carry low sails
Alternative form of mackerel sky and mare's-tails make tall ships carry low sails.
lofty
UK /ˈlɒfti/ US /ˈlɒfti/
adj 3name 1
Definitions
adj
1
High, tall, having great height or stature.
The lofty mountains roſe faint to the ſight and loſt their foreheads in the diſtant ſkies: the little hills, cloathed in darker green and ſkirted with embroidered vales, diſcovered the ſecret haunts of kids and bounding roes.
On my left was a river, which came roaring down from a range of lofty mountains right before me to the south-east.
2
Idealistic, implying over-optimism.
a lofty goal
A goal from Steven Caulker, just after the hour mark, was enough to hand victory to Malky Mackay's men, with Swansea falling some way short of the lofty standards they have set previously at this level.
3
Extremely proud; arrogant; haughty.
that lofty pity with which prosperous folk are apt to remember their grandfathers
name
1
nickname for a tall (usually male) person
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