masthead

[ mast-hed, mahst- ]

noun

1. Also called flag. a statement printed in all issues of a newspaper, magazine, or the like, usually on the editorial page, giving the publication's name, the names of the owner and staff, etc.
2. Also called nameplate. a line of type on the front page of a newspaper or the cover of a periodical giving the name of the publication.
3. Nautical.
   1. the head of a mast.
   2. the uppermost point of a mast.

verb (used with object)

, Nautical.

1. to hoist a yard to the fullest extent.
2. to hoist to the truck of a mast, as a flag.
3. to send to the upper end of a mast as a punishment.

adjective

1. Nautical. run up to the head of a mast:

   masthead rig.

masthead

/ ˈmɑːstˌhɛd /

noun

1. nautical
   1. the head of a mast
   2. ( as modifier )

      masthead sail

2. Also calledflag the name of a newspaper or periodical, its proprietors, staff, etc, printed in large type at the top of the front page

verb

1. to send (a sailor) to the masthead as a punishment
2. to raise (a sail) to the masthead

Word History and Origins

Origin of masthead¹

First recorded in 1740–50; mast ¹ + head

Example Sentences

Show me mastheads with people of color at the top and restaurants where workers share in the profits.

From Time

On their masthead, the Rays list 27 baseball operations employees with titles that include some combination of “baseball systems,” “research and development” and the like.

From Washington Post

As our newsroom has grown, we also created a new masthead team to strengthen and diversify our leadership.

From ProPublica

Starting next year, YouTube will price its homepage masthead ad unit on an impression basis only rather than allow advertisers to reserve the spot for an entire day.

From Search Engine Land

With these appointments, ProPublica’s masthead team will consist of Engelberg, managing editors Fields and Ornstein, deputy managing editors Thompson, Weber, Scott Klein and Eric Umansky, and assistant managing editors Sorbara and Zayas.

From ProPublica

System, a new publication run out of London, has a very imposing masthead.

From The Daily Beast

And at both papers, the upper levels of the masthead remained strictly male.

From The Daily Beast

Today, the Daily Pennsylvanian masthead is at least half female, and the last three executive editors have been women.

From The Daily Beast

The top of the masthead has been occupied by four people in the last five years.

From The Daily Beast

The breakers from the masthead, bearing south-east, distant eight or nine miles.

From Project Gutenberg

The new smack was flying a flag at her masthead, but Jim could not read well enough to make out the inscription on the flag.

From Project Gutenberg

But Thorgils waxed silent, and sent a man to the masthead suddenly, for some reason which was not plain to me.

From Project Gutenberg

He could see a masthead light, her red light (with glasses), and a "glare of white lights on her afterdeck."

From Project Gutenberg

He first thought her masthead light was flickering and next thought it was a Morse light, "calling us up."

From Project Gutenberg