royal mast

American  

Or royalmast

noun

Nautical.

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

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Etymology

Origin of royal mast

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

royal mast

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 William Hope Hodgson

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 Herman Melville

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 William Hope Hodgson

Masts: The masts of a full-rigged three-masted ship are the following: Fore-mast, topmast, topgallant-mast, royal mast.

From Anson's Voyage Round the World The Text Reduced by H. W. Household

He could feel the royal mast swaying and whipping like a fishing-rod—the stays were as tight as the strings of a fiddle.

From Yankee Ships and Yankee Sailors: Tales of 1812 by James Barnes