crosstree

American  

[kraws-tree, kros-] / ˈkrɔsˌtri, ˈkrɒs- /

noun

1. Nautical. either of a pair of timbers or metal bars placed athwart the trestletrees at a masthead to spread the shrouds leading to the mast above, or on the head of a lower mast to support the platform or top.

2. Carpentry. a heavy crossbeam.

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crosstree British  

/ ˈkrɒsˌtriː /

noun

1. nautical either of a pair of wooden or metal braces on the head of a mast to support the topmast, etc

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Etymology

Origin of crosstree

First recorded in 1620–30; cross- + tree

Example Sentences

The schooner listed and he swung outward; he tried to entwine his legs in the shrouds, but failed, and he continued to rise until his feet had cleared the crosstree.

From The Crimson Gardenia and Other Tales of Adventure by Beach, Rex Ellingwood

In her right hand she held a trumpet to her lips, and in her left she carried a crosstree, the framework of a trophy.

From Greek Sculpture A collection of sixteen pictures of Greek marbles with introduction and interpretation by Hurll, Estelle M. (Estelle May)

We made a spade out of the shoulder-blade of a walrus tied to a piece of a broken snow-shoe staff, and a mattock out of a walrus tusk tied to the crosstree of a sledge.

From Farthest North Being the Record of a Voyage of Exploration of the Ship 'Fram' 1893-1896 by Nansen, Fridtjof

He was no lineman, but he knew enough to be careful about the wires, so it took him several minutes to work his way to where he could straddle a crosstree that had few wires.

From Starr, of the Desert by Bower, B. M.