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

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

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

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 gentleman had the air of a military man: short, erect as a royal mast, with plenty of whiskers and moustache, though he wore his chin cropped.

From The Honour of the Flag by Russell, W. Clark (William Clark)