royal mast

American  

Or royalmast

noun

Nautical.

1. a mast situated immediately above, and generally formed as a single spar with, a topgallant mast.

---

Etymology

Origin of royal mast

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

At length the main royal mast of the latter gave way in the strain, which gave the stranger so much the advantage that he effected a junction with his consort.

From The Second War with England, Vol. 2 of 2 by Headley, Joel Tyler

The lowest section was ten inches square and tapered upwards to the small royal mast at a prospective height of one hundred and twenty feet.

From The Home of the Blizzard Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 by Mawson, Douglas, Sir

And thus, with one hand clinging round the royal mast, Ahab gazed abroad upon the sea for miles and miles,—ahead astern, this side, and that,—within the wide expanded circle commanded at so great a height.

From Moby Dick: or, the White Whale by Melville, Herman

I had traced out bit by bit, until now I could clearly see the jackstay, running along the top of the royal mast; and, you know, the royal itself was set.

From The Ghost Pirates by Hodgson, William Hope

Apart from such spars as they had managed to secure, they had a spare topmast lashed along under the larboard bulwarks, and a spare t'gallant and royal mast lying along the starboard side.

From The Boats of the "Glen Carrig" by Hodgson, William Hope