mast

¹

[mast, mahst]

noun

1. Nautical.

   1. 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.

   2. any of a number of individual spars composing such a structure, as a topmast supported on trestletrees at the head of a lower mast.

   3. 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.

2. Also called pillar. the upright support of a jib crane.

3. any upright pole, as a support for an aerial, a post in certain cranes, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. to provide with a mast or masts.

mast

²

[mast, mahst]

noun

1. the fruit of the oak and beech or other forest trees, used as food for hogs and other animals.

mast-

³

1. variant of masto- before a vowel.

   mastectomy.

mast

¹

/ mɑːst /

noun

1. nautical any vertical spar for supporting sails, rigging, flags, etc, above the deck of a vessel or any components of such a composite spar

2. any sturdy upright pole used as a support

3. Also called: captain's mast. nautical a hearing conducted by the captain of a vessel into minor offences of the crew

4. nautical as an apprentice seaman

verb

1. (tr) nautical to equip with a mast or masts

mast

²

/ mɑːst /

noun

1. the fruit of forest trees, such as beech, oak, etc, used as food for pigs

mast-

³

combining form

1. a variant of masto-

Other Word Forms

• mastless adjective
• mastlike adjective
• undermasted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mast¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English mæst; cognate with Dutch mast, German Mast; akin to Latin mālus “pole”

Origin of mast²

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English mæst; cognate with German Mast “food”; akin to meat

Word History and Origins

Origin of mast¹

Old English mæst; related to Middle Dutch mast and Latin mālus pole

Origin of mast²

Old English mæst; related to Old High German mast food, and perhaps to _meat

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. before the mast, as an unlicensed sailor.

   He served several years before the mast.

see at half-mast.

Example Sentences

She "passed away peacefully last night at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family", a statement said on Friday, with the flag on Buckingham Palace now lowered to half mast.

From BBC

The footage shows the Terra Nova colonised with sea life, but key features of the wooden ship are still visible including its wheel, winch and mast.

From BBC

But when the government decided an electricity supply was needed to three emergency telecommunication masts in the valley, an opportunity arose to connect many of the properties too.

From BBC

It uses mobile phone masts to send targeted information to users in a particular area.

From BBC

All across the Liverpool City Region flags flew at half mast with the silence observed throughout the area, including members of the emergency services.

From BBC

Related Words

• pole 

When To Use

What does mast- mean?

Mast- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “breast.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy and pathology.Mast- comes from the Greek mastós, meaning “breast.” The Latin-based analog to masto- is mammo-, from mamma, meaning “breast.”Mast- is a variant of masto-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels.Want to know more? Read our Words That Use masto- article.