royal mast
Definition
Noun: * The section of a sailing ship's mast immediately above the topgallant mast. A royal mast is a specific spar (pole) that supports a royal sail. It is the fourth mast section up from the deck on a traditional square-rigged ship.
Usage
The term "royal mast" is used specifically in the context of historical sailing vessels and nautical terminology to describe a precise part of the ship's rigging. * The sailors climbed aloft to secure the lines on the royal mast. * During the storm, the force of the wind damaged the royal mast.
Advanced Usage
- The royal mast is part of a specific sequence of mast sections. On a full-rigged ship, the order from the deck upward is: lower mast, topmast, topgallant mast, and finally royal mast.
- The sail set on this mast is called the royal sail.
Variants and Related Words
- Royal (adj): Pertaining to a monarch. In nautical context, it specifically modifies mast and sail types (e.g., royal mast, royal sail).
- Topgallant Mast (n): The mast section immediately below the royal mast.
- Skysail Mast (n): On some large ships, a mast section sometimes mounted above the royal mast.
Synonyms
- Spar (a more general term for any pole used on a ship, such as a mast, yard, or boom).
Noun
- topmast immediately above the topgallant mast
