fore-topmast

American  

[fawr-top-mast, -mahst, fohr-, fawr-top-muhst, fohr-] / ˌfɔrˈtɒpˌmæst, -ˌmɑst, ˌfoʊr-, ˌfɔrˈtɒp məst, ˌfoʊr- /

noun

1. the spar or section of a pole mast serving as the topmast of a foremast on a ship.

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fore-topmast British  

/ fɔːˈtɒpməst, fɔːˈtɒpˌmɑːst /

noun

1. nautical a mast stepped above a foremast

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Etymology

Origin of fore-topmast

First recorded in 1620–30

Example Sentences

As for the gales of wind, they were the merest flea-bites in creation, though one of them borrowed the brig's fore-topmast, and another walked away with her jib-boom.

From An Old Sailor's Yarns by Ames, N. (Nathaniel)

Just before the storm reached them, Captain Beardsley thought it would be wise to shorten his canvas, but all he took in were the gaff-topsails and fore-topmast staysail.

From Marcy The Blockade Runner by White, George G. (George Gorgas)

To break; as, "That ship has carried away her fore-topmast," i.e. has broken it off.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

But she was not so lucky—for we could see, by their getting preventer-backstays upon her fore-topmast, that the mast was crippled.

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 10 by Various

They were too far away to hear the crash as it struck the fore-topmast, but the fall of the mast and the confusion on the ship were plainly visible.

From Woven with the Ship A Novel of 1865 by Brady, Cyrus Townsend