What is "strange sail"

Strange \Strange\, a. [Compar. Stranger; superl. Strangest.] [OE. estrange, F. ['e]trange, fr. L. extraneus that is without, external, foreign, fr. extra on the outside. See Extra, and cf. Estrange, Extraneous.]

1. Belonging to another country; foreign. ``To seek strange strands.''
   --Chaucer.

   One of the strange queen's lords.
   --Shak.

   I do not contemn the knowledge of strange and divers tongues.
   --Ascham.

2. Of or pertaining to others; not one's own; not pertaining to one's self; not domestic.

   So she, impatient her own faults to see, Turns from herself, and in strange things delights.
   --Sir J. Davies.

3. Not before known, heard, or seen; new.

   Here is the hand and seal of the duke; you know the character, I doubt not; and the signet is not strange to you.
   --Shak.

4. Not according to the common way; novel; odd; unusual; irregular; extraordinary; unnatural; queer. ``He is sick of a strange fever.''
   --Shak.

   Sated at length, erelong I might perceive Strange alteration in me.
   --Milton.

5. Reserved; distant in deportment.
   --Shak.

   She may be strange and shy at first, but will soon learn to love thee.
   --Hawthorne.

6. Backward; slow. [Obs.]

   Who, loving the effect, would not be strange In favoring the cause.
   --Beau. & Fl.

7. Not familiar; unaccustomed; inexperienced. In thy fortunes am unlearned and strange. --Shak. Note: Strange is often used as an exclamation. Strange! what extremes should thus preserve the snow High on the Alps, or in deep caves below. --Waller. Strange sail (Naut.), an unknown vessel. Strange woman (Script.), a harlot. --Prov. v. 3. To make it strange.

   1. To assume ignorance, suspicion, or alarm, concerning it.
      --Shak.

   2. To make it a matter of difficulty. [Obs.] --Chaucer. To make strange, To make one's self strange.

      1. To profess ignorance or astonishment.

      2. To assume the character of a stranger.
         --Gen. xlii. 7.

         Syn: Foreign; new; outlandish; wonderful; astonishing; marvelous; unusual; odd; uncommon; irregular; queer; eccentric.