mast
1[ mast, mahst ]
/ mæst, mɑst /
noun
Nautical.
- 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.
- any of a number of individual spars composing such a structure, as a topmast supported on trestletrees at the head of a lower mast.
- 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.
Also called pillar. the upright support of a jib crane.
any upright pole, as a support for an aerial, a post in certain cranes, etc.
verb (used with object)
to provide with a mast or masts.
Nearby words
Idioms
before the mast, Nautical. as an unlicensed sailor: He served several years before the mast.
Origin of mast
1before 900; Middle English; Old English mæst; cognate with German Mast; akin to Latin mālus pole
Related forms
mast·less, adjectivemast·like, adjectiveun·der·mast·ed, adjectiveDefinition for mast (2 of 3)
mast
2[ mast, mahst ]
/ mæst, mɑst /
noun
the fruit of the oak and beech or other forest trees, used as food for hogs and other animals.
Origin of mast
2Definition for mast (3 of 3)
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for mast
British Dictionary definitions for mast (1 of 3)
mast
1/ (mɑːst) /
noun
nautical any vertical spar for supporting sails, rigging, flags, etc, above the deck of a vessel or any components of such a composite spar
any sturdy upright pole used as a support
Also called: captain's mast nautical a hearing conducted by the captain of a vessel into minor offences of the crew
before the mast nautical as an apprentice seaman
verb
(tr) nautical to equip with a mast or masts
Derived Forms
mastless, adjectivemastlike, adjectiveWord Origin for mast
Old English mæst; related to Middle Dutch mast and Latin mālus pole
British Dictionary definitions for mast (2 of 3)
mast
2/ (mɑːst) /
noun
the fruit of forest trees, such as beech, oak, etc, used as food for pigs
Word Origin for mast
Old English mæst; related to Old High German mast food, and perhaps to meat
British Dictionary definitions for mast (3 of 3)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medicine definitions for mast
mast-
pref.
Variant ofmasto-
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with mast
mast
see at half-mast.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.