mast

views updated

mast1 / mast/ • n. 1. a tall upright post, spar, or other structure on a ship or boat, in sailing vessels generally carrying a sail or sails. ∎  a similar structure on land, esp. a flagpole or a television or radio transmitter.2. (in full captain's mast) (in the U.S. Navy) a session of court presided over by the captain of a ship, esp. to hear cases of minor offenses.PHRASES: before the mast hist. serving as an ordinary seaman in a sailing ship (quartered in the forecastle).DERIVATIVES: mast·ed adj. [in comb.] a single-masted fishing boat.

mast

mast2 • n. the fruit of beech, oak, chestnut, and other forest trees, esp. as food for pigs and wild animals.

More From encyclopedia.com