ἱστίον

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 . . βοεῦσιν they hauled them up with ox-hide ropes, Od. 2.426; τέταθ’ ἱστία the sails were spread, 11.11, cf. Pi. N. 5.51; ἱστία στέλλεσθαι, μηρύεσθαι, καθελεῖν, to lower or furl sail (v. sub vocc.): λύειν Od. 15.496; ἱστίοισι χρᾶσθαι Hdt. 4.110; ἄκροισι χρώμενος τοῖς ἱστίοις Ar. Ra. 1000: prov., πλήρεσιν ἱ. under full sail, 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 Pi. P. 1.92; ἱστίῳ καταπετάσαι τινά Pl. Prm. 131b, cf. PMagd. 11.7 (iii B.C.).