dismast

American  

[dis-mast, -mahst] / dɪsˈmæst, -ˈmɑst /

verb (used with object)

1. to deprive (a ship) of masts; break off the masts of.

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dismast British  

/ dɪsˈmɑːst /

verb

1. (tr) to break off the mast or masts of (a sailing vessel)

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Other Word Forms

• dismastment noun

Etymology

Origin of dismast

First recorded in 1740–50; dis- ¹ + mast ¹

Example Sentences

The Australian aircraft flew over Sunderland Friday, reporting the yacht had been dismast and the keel apparently had been detached.

From Reuters • Jun. 12, 2010

But last week the Sail America group reluctantly accepted the challenge, amid indications it would seize every rule advantage to dismast the pesky Fay.

From Time Magazine Archive

This plan did not work; gunnery was so imprecise that no captain knew whether a given culverin would dismast his enemy, drop its ball a quarter-mile short, or explode and wreck his own ship.

From Time Magazine Archive

It was a bitter blow to the proud 18th Century shipbuilders of Britain and the U. S. to discover that the cliff-sided, lattice-sailed junks of China could outride a typhoon that would dismast a frigate.

From Time Magazine Archive

Each dhow as she was cleared had to make for the shore and dismast or beach so that she could not steal out at night and add to the difficulties of the blockade.

From Pan-Islam by Bury, G. Wyman (George Wyman)