n. & v.
n. 1 a long upright post of timber, iron, etc., set up on a ship's keel, esp. to support sails. 2 a post or lattice-work upright for supporting a radio or television aerial. 3 a flag-pole (half-mast). 4 (in full mooring-mast) a strong steel tower to the top of which an airship can be moored.
v.tr. furnish (a ship) with masts. before the mast serving as an ordinary seaman (quartered in the forecastle). masted adj. (also in comb.). master n. (also in comb.).
[ OE mst f. WG ]