MAST

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. øbefore the mast serving as an ordinary seaman (quartered in the forecastle). øømasted adj. (also in comb.). master n. (also in comb.). [OE móst f. WG]