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.
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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 formsmast·less, adjectivemast·like, adjectiveun·der·mast·ed, adjective
Definition 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)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
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 Formsmastless, adjectivemastlike, adjective
Word 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
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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.