masting
Origin of masting
mast1
- 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.
- to provide with a mast or masts.
- before the mast, Nautical. as an unlicensed sailor: He served several years before the mast.
Origin of mast1
Examples from the Web for masting
Historical Examples
There are also hulks for convicts, and for masting, as sheer-hulk.
The Sailor's Word-BookWilliam Henry Smyth
I do not know how far the masting was consonant to his wishes.
From Sail to Steam, Recollections of Naval LifeCaptain A. T. Mahan
The peculiar style of her masting had drawn his attention to her.
The Flag of DistressMayne Reid
The consideration of the “masting” industry will be taken up in the next chapter.
Glimpses of the PastW. O. Raymond
The masting business was a very important one in the early days of New Brunswick.
Glimpses of the PastW. O. Raymond
mast1
- 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
- (tr) nautical to equip with a mast or masts
Word Origin
mast2
- the fruit of forest trees, such as beech, oak, etc, used as food for pigs
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for masting
mast
n.1
"long pole on a ship to support the sail," Old English mæst, from Proto-Germanic *mastaz (cf. Old Norse mastr, Middle Dutch maste, Dutch, Danish mast, German Mast), from PIE *mazdo- "a pole, rod" (cf. Latin malus "mast," Old Irish matan "club," Irish maide "a stick," Old Church Slavonic mostu "bridge"). The single mast of an old ship was the boundary between quarters of officers and crew, hence before the mast in the title of Dana's book, etc.
mast
n.2
"fallen nuts; food for swine," Old English mæst, from Proto-Germanic *masto (cf. Dutch, Old High German, German mast "mast;" Old English verb mæsten "to fatten, feed"), perhaps from PIE *mad-sta-, from root *mad- "moist, wet," also used of various qualities of food (cf. Sanskrit madati "it bubbles, gladdens," medah "fat, marrow;" Latin madere "be sodden, be drunk;" Middle Persian mast "drunk;" Old English mete "food," Old High German muos "meal, mushlike food," Gothic mats "food").
Idioms and Phrases with masting
mast
see at half-mast.