lateen UK /ləˈtiːn/US /læˈtiːn/ noun1 •A triangular fore-and-aft sail set on a boom in such way that the tack is attached to the hull of the vessel and the free end of the boom lifts the sail.The lateen sail is triangular or a quadrilateral which is almost triangular, the former being the type used by the Byzantines. — 1990 formslateens