Mainmast

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Mainmast \Main"mast`\, n. (Naut.)
     The principal mast in a ship or other vessel.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  Mast \Mast\, n. [AS. maest, masc.; akin to D., G., Dan., & Sw.
     mast, Icel. mastr, and perh. to L. malus.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. (Naut.) A pole, or long, strong, round piece of timber, or
        spar, set upright in a boat or vessel, to sustain the
        sails, yards, rigging, etc. A mast may also consist of
        several pieces of timber united by iron bands, or of a
        hollow pillar of iron or steel.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The tallest pine
              Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast
              Of some great ammiral.                --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The most common general names of masts are {foremast},
           {mainmast}, and {mizzenmast}, each of which may be made
           of separate spars.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Mach.) The vertical post of a derrick or crane.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Aeronautics) A spar or strut to which tie wires or guys
        are attached for stiffening purposes.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  
     {Afore the mast}, {Before the mast}. See under {Afore}, and
        {Before}.
  
     {Mast coat}. See under {Coat}.
  
     {Mast hoop}, one of a number of hoops attached to the fore
        edge of a boom sail, which slip on the mast as the sail is
        raised or lowered; also, one of the iron hoops used in
        making a made mast. See {Made}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  mainmast
       n : the chief mast of a sailing vessel with two or more masts