mast — a tall pole on a ship that supports the sails
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a tall pole on a ship that supports the sails
Pronunciation (IPA): /mæst/
Example Sentences
- The storm broke the main mast, leaving the ship stranded.
- The sailor got dizzy after spinning around the mast ten times.
- They raised the flag to the top of the mast on Independence Day.
mast
NOUN[/mæst/]
a tall pole on a ship that supports the sails

Tall pole supports ship's sails

Mast held high, sailing fast beyond the past!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Mast derives from Old Germanic languages, where it originally meant a tree or wooden post. The word evolved to specifically denote the vertical spar supporting a ship's sails, a usage that became established in Old English as 'mæst' and remains the primary meaning today.
Breakdown
Old English mæst (wooden pole/tree) → Middle English mast → Modern English mast, with the specialized nautical sense developing through maritime usage.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The storm broke the main mast, leaving the ship stranded.”
“The sailor got dizzy after spinning around the mast ten times.”
“They raised the flag to the top of the mast on Independence Day.”
“The parrot refused to come down from the mast, demanding more crackers.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
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