Definition

1. Noun:
   • A tall vertical pole or spar on a ship: A "mast" is a strong, upright pole, traditionally made of wood or metal, that supports the sails, rigging, and sometimes flags on a sailing vessel.
   • A tall upright pole: More generally, a "mast" can refer to any tall, sturdy pole, such as those used for supporting antennas, flags, or cranes.
   • The fruit of forest trees: In a specialized botanical and agricultural context, "mast" refers to the nuts (like acorns and beechnuts) of forest trees, especially when accumulated on the ground and used as feed for animals like pigs.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Nautical):
  • The ship's main mast was damaged in the storm.
  • Sailors climbed the mast to adjust the sails.
• Noun (General pole):
  • A radio mast was erected on the hill for better signal transmission.
  • The flag fluttered from the top of the mast.
• Noun (Botanical/Food):
  • The forest floor was covered with mast, providing food for wild boar.
  • Pannage is the practice of letting pigs forage for mast in the woods.

Advanced Usage

• "Before the mast": A historical phrase meaning to serve as an ordinary sailor (who lived in the forecastle, the area in front of the ship's main mast).
  • In his youth, he sailed before the mast on a merchant vessel.
• "Half-mast": The position of a flag when it is flown halfway down the pole as a mark of respect for a person who has died.
  • Flags were flown at half-mast following the national tragedy.

Variants and Related Words

• Masthead (n): The top of a ship's mast; also, the name of a newspaper or its editorial details.
  • The lookout was posted at the masthead.
• Masting (n): The production of a large, synchronized crop of seeds (mast) by trees.
  • This year's heavy masting will benefit the local wildlife.

Synonyms

• Spar: A general term for a stout pole used on a ship, especially as a mast, yard, or boom.
• Pole: A long, slender piece of wood or metal.
• Acorns, Beechnuts: Specific types of mast.

Related Phrases

• To sail/serve before the mast: To work as a common sailor.
  • He wrote a book about his adventures serving before the mast.
• To nail one's colors to the mast: To make one's beliefs or intentions very clear and refuse to change them (from the naval practice of nailing a ship's flag to the mast so it could not be lowered in surrender).
  • By publishing that manifesto, the party nailed its colors to the mast.

Related Idioms

• As deaf as a post (or as a mast): Completely deaf (using "mast" as an example of something that does not hear).
  • After the loud concert, I was as deaf as a post.

Noun

1. any sturdy upright pole
2. nuts of forest trees used as feed for swine
3. nuts of forest trees (as beechnuts and acorns) accumulated on the ground
4. a vertical spar for supporting sails