topgallant mast

American  

noun

Nautical.

1. a mast fixed to the head of a topmast on a square-rigged vessel.

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Etymology

Origin of topgallant mast

First recorded in 1505–15

Example Sentences

Her main topgallant mast was also gone at the cross-trees, but the maintopsail held strongly.

From Mr. Trunnell, Mate of the Ship "Pirate" by Hains, T. Jenkins (Thornton Jenkins)

On the 19th a squall carried away the fore topmast and main topgallant mast, and it took the whole day to replace the first, but they had nothing suitable for the top gallant mast.

From The Life of Captain James Cook by Kitson, Arthur

This was a rather fatiguing operation, although it was greatly facilitated by some rollers which Eric sawed off a spare topgallant mast that was amongst the old spars the skipper gave them.

From Fritz and Eric The Brother Crusoes by Hutcheson, John C. (John Conroy)

The captain pointed toward the foremast, and sure enough there was Robert, hanging on the yards of the topgallant mast, a hundred feet above in the air.

From In Search of the Castaways; or the Children of Captain Grant by Verne, Jules

The action had hardly begun when the Wasp lost her main topmast, and a few minutes later the mizzen topgallant mast and the gaff were shot away.

From Dewey and Other Naval Commanders by Ellis, Edward Sylvester