mast

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈmast 

1

: a long pole or spar rising from the keel or deck of a ship and supporting the yards, booms, and rigging

2

: a slender vertical or nearly vertical structure (such as an upright post in various cranes)

3

: a disciplinary proceeding at which the commanding officer of a naval unit hears and disposes of cases against enlisted men

called also captain's mast

masted

ˈma-stəd 

adjective

mast

2 of 3

verb

masted; masting; masts

transitive verb

: to furnish with a mast

mast

3 of 3

noun (2)

: nuts (such as acorns) accumulated on the forest floor and often serving as food for animals

Phrases

before the mast

1

: forward of the foremast

2

: as a common sailor

Examples of mast in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

When mast, both hard and soft, suddenly becomes available, turkeys are going to find and key in on it. —Will Brantley, Field & Stream, 17 Apr. 2024

The majority, however, were minor – a ship’s antenna or mast hitting a bridge, or a barge clipping a bridge’s protective fender. —USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024

Oncor told the Towne family in an email that an overhead service mast the electric company believes was installed by the owner or builder of the home did not have the proper clearance and did not meet the requirements of all applicable codes and local ordinances. —Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Jan. 2024

But this is all happening at, or around, the best deer feed in the area, whether that’s big-woods browse or mast, ag fields, or the best late-season food plots. —Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English mæst; akin to Old High German mast mast, Latin malus

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Old English mæst; akin to Old High German mast food, mast, and probably to Old English mete food — more at meat

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1513, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing mast

• before the mast
• captain's mast
• half-mast
• mast cell
• mast year

Kids Definition

mast

noun

ˈmast

1

: a long pole that rises from the bottom of a ship or boat and supports the sails and rigging

2

: an upright tall pole (as on a crane)

masted

ˈmas-təd

adjective

Medical Definition

MAST

abbreviation

military anti-shock trousers