mast
UK /mɑːst/ · US /mæst/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms masts masting masted
- noun (nautical, communication, aviation) A tall, slim post or tower, usually tapering upward, used to support, for example, sails or observation platforms on a ship, the main rotor of a helicopter, flags, floodlights, meteorological instruments, or communications equipment, such as an aerial, usually supported by guy-wires (except in the case of a helicopter).
- noun (naval) A non-judicial punishment ("NJP"); a disciplinary hearing under which a commanding officer studies and disposes of cases involving those under his command.
- verb To supply and fit a mast to (a ship).
- noun The fruit of forest-trees (beech, oak, chestnut, pecan, etc.), especially if having fallen from the tree, used as fodder for pigs and other animals.
- verb (of swine and other animals) To feed on forest seed or fruit.
- verb (agriculture, forestry, ecology, of a population of plants) To produce a very large quantity of fruit or seed in certain years but not others.
- noun (bodybuilding slang) The anabolic steroid drostanolone propionate, also known as Masteron
- noun (obsolete, billiards) A type of heavy cue, with the broad end of which one strikes the ball.
- proper noun A surname.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English mast, from Old English mæst (“mast”), from Proto-West Germanic *mast, from Proto-Germanic *mastaz (“mast, sail-pole”), from Proto-Indo-European *mazdos (“pole, mast”).
Cognate with Dutch mast, German Mast, and via Indo-European with Latin mālus, Russian мост (most, “bridge”), Irish adhmad.
From Old English mæst (“fallen nuts, food for swine”) and mæstan (“to fatten”), from West Germanic; probably related to meat.
Clipping of Masteron.
From French masse, with -t probably after Etymology 1, above.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The fruit of the oak and beech, or other forest trees; nuts; acorns.
- noun 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.
- noun The vertical post of a derrick or crane. Afore the mast, Before the mast. See under Afore, and Before.
- verb To furnish with a mast or masts; to put the masts of in position; as, to mast a ship.
Etymology [AS. mæst, fem. ; akin to G. mast, and E. meat. See Meat.]
Etymology [AS. mæst, masc.; akin to D., G., Dan., & Sw. mast, Icel. mastr, and perh. to L. malus.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “mast”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details