Brig

A brig was a two masted square-rigged sailing vessel which also carried a large gaff sail (brig-sail or spanker) on the aft mast (mainmast). It also carried staysails (gibs) from the foremast to the bowsprit and late in its career was capable of setting “studding” sails on extensions to the yards which, allied with the a narrow hull and sharp (or clipper) bow, gave the brig a fair turn of speed in the right conditions.

The brig grew out of the Mediterranean brigantine in the 16th to 17th centuries as a relatively short-haul cargo vessel suited to [[Atlantic] conditions. Being relatively small, it was relatively cheap to operate because of small harbour dues and ease of handling. It was also used by navies as a despatch and training vessel and carried up to about 20 guns.

In the 19th century longer voyages were made with brigs, frequently carrying freight and immigrants across the Atlantic to America. However, in the 1860s, this role began to be taken over by the larger barque, although brigs were still being built well after the advent of steam.

The “hermaphrodite brig”, sometime known as a “brig-schooner” is a cross between a brig and the historic brigantine. It carries only fore and aft sails on the mainmast, whereas the brig is square-rigged and the “true” brigantine carries square-rigged top-sails above the spanker. Just to complicate things further, these days the hermaphrodite brig is also known as a brigantine.

A brig is also a holding cell onboard a ship. Italic text