mast

¹

[mast, mahst]

noun

1. Nautical.

   1. a spar or structure rising above the hull and upper portions of a ship or boat to hold sails, spars, rigging, booms, signals, etc., at some point on the fore-and-aft line, as a foremast or mainmast.

   2. any of a number of individual spars composing such a structure, as a topmast supported on trestletrees at the head of a lower mast.

   3. any of various portions of a single spar that are beside particular sails, as a top-gallant mast and royal mast formed as a single spar.

2. Also called pillar. the upright support of a jib crane.

3. any upright pole, as a support for an aerial, a post in certain cranes, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. to provide with a mast or masts.

mast

²

[mast, mahst]

noun

1. the fruit of the oak and beech or other forest trees, used as food for hogs and other animals.

mast-

³

1. variant of masto- before a vowel.

   mastectomy.

mast

¹

/ mɑːst /

noun

1. nautical any vertical spar for supporting sails, rigging, flags, etc, above the deck of a vessel or any components of such a composite spar

2. any sturdy upright pole used as a support

3. Also called: captain's mast. nautical a hearing conducted by the captain of a vessel into minor offences of the crew

4. nautical as an apprentice seaman

verb

1. (tr) nautical to equip with a mast or masts

mast

²

/ mɑːst /

noun

1. the fruit of forest trees, such as beech, oak, etc, used as food for pigs

mast-

³

combining form

1. a variant of masto-

Other Word Forms

• mastless adjective
• mastlike adjective
• undermasted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mast¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English mæst; cognate with Dutch mast, German Mast; akin to Latin mālus “pole”

Origin of mast²

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English mæst; cognate with German Mast “food”; akin to meat

Word History and Origins

Origin of mast¹

Old English mæst; related to Middle Dutch mast and Latin mālus pole

Origin of mast²

Old English mæst; related to Old High German mast food, and perhaps to _meat

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. before the mast, as an unlicensed sailor.

   He served several years before the mast.

see at half-mast.

Example Sentences

The flags outside the conference centre fly at half mast.

From BBC

Connectivity out of Gaza is often weak or non-existent, as Israel has bombed mobile phone masts and internet hubs.

From BBC

There was an explosion right after impact in which the Bell’s tail boom, main rotor, mast and transmission separated from the helicopter, the report says.

From Los Angeles Times

She "passed away peacefully last night at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family", a statement said on Friday, with the flag on Buckingham Palace now lowered to half mast.

From BBC

The footage shows the Terra Nova colonised with sea life, but key features of the wooden ship are still visible including its wheel, winch and mast.

From BBC

Related Words

• pole 

When To Use

What does mast- mean?

Mast- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “breast.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy and pathology.Mast- comes from the Greek mastós, meaning “breast.” The Latin-based analog to masto- is mammo-, from mamma, meaning “breast.”Mast- is a variant of masto-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels.Want to know more? Read our Words That Use masto- article.