mainmast

[ meyn-mast, -mahst; Nautical meyn-muhst ]

noun

, Nautical.

1. the second mast from forward in any ship having two or more masts, mast, except for a yawl, ketch, or dandy.
2. the larger forward mast of a yawl, ketch, or dandy.
3. the sole mast of any of various ships, as sloops or cutters.

mainmast

/ ˈmeɪnˌmɑːst /

noun

1. nautical the chief mast of a sailing vessel with two or more masts, being the foremast of a yawl, ketch, or dandy and the second mast from the bow of most others

Word History and Origins

Origin of mainmast¹

First recorded in 1475–85; main ¹ + mast ¹

Example Sentences

Everything was on fire from the mainmast forward, he said.

From Seattle Times

The words had barely left Piper’s mouth when an arrow sank into the mainmast, six inches from her face.

From Literature

"Removing the lower mainmast has been an incredibly complex project," he said.

From BBC

Minutes later, the English ship — the Fancy, under the command of the notorious pirate captain Henry Every — had closed on the Mughal vessel and shattered its 40-foot mainmast with a single, fluke cannon shot.

From New York Times

As we neared the mouth of New Bedford Harbor, a schooner flying a long green streamer off its mainmast, its sails plump, its bow rising and dipping, came out through the channel toward us.

From Literature