1. to tilt or tip (a ship's yard or boom) at an angle, especially with one end higher than the other
Usage: nautical; third person singular present or plural form

1. plural of cockbill; a tilted or angled position of a ship's yard or boom
Usage: nautical

Examples

• The sailors cockbills the yard to signal distress.
• The ship's crew cockbills the main yard at an angle.
• During the ceremony, the crew cockbills all the yards in salute.
• The cockbills of the yards were visible from the harbor.
• He ordered the men to cockbills the boom for better sail adjustment.