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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



25 words match “TOPMAST”

TOPMAST n.
The second mast, or that which is next above the lower mast, and below the topgallant mast.
FORE-TOPMAST n.
The mast erected at the head of the foremast, and at the head of which stands the fore-topgallant mast. See Ship.
BEE n.
Pieces of hard wood bolted to the sides of the bowsprit, to reeve the fore-topmast stays through; -- called also bee blocks. Bee beetle (Zoöl.), a beetle (Trichodes apiarius) parasitic in beehives. -- Bee bird (Zoöl.), a bird that eats the honeybee, as the European flycatcher, and the American kingbird. -- Bee flower…
CARRY v.
a soldier. -- To carry away. (a) (Naut.) to break off; to lose; as, to carry away a fore-topmast. (b) To take possession of the mind; to charm; to delude; as, to be carried by music, or by temptation. -- To carry coals, to bear indignities tamely, a phrase used by early dramatists, perhaps from the mean nature of the…
FID n.
A square bar of wood or iron, used to support the topmast, being passed through a hole or mortise at its heel, and resting on the trestle trees.
FORE a.
near the muzzle. -- Fore tackle (Naut.), the tackle on the foremast of a ship. -- Fore topmast. (Naut.) See Fore-topmast, in the Vocabulary. -- Fore wind, a favorable wind. [Obs.] Sailed on smooth seas, by fore winds borne. Sandys. -- Fore world, the antediluvian world. [R.] Southey.
FORE-TOPGALLANT a.
Designating the mast, sail, yard, etc., above the topmast; as, the fore-topgallant sail. See Sail.
FUTTOCK n.
s and over the keel. Futtock plates (Naut.), plates of iron to which the dead-eyes of the topmast rigging are secured. -- Futtock shrouds, short iron shrouds leading from the upper part of the lower mast or of the main shrouds to the edge of the top, or through it, and connecting the topmast rigging with the lower mas…
GAFF-TOPSAIL n.
A small triangular sail having its foot extended upon the gaff and its luff upon the topmast.
GUNTER RIG n.
A topmast arranged with metal bands so that it will readily slide up and down the lower mast.
INNER a.
sittings. -- Inner jib (Naut.), a fore-and-aft sail set on a stay running from the fore-topmast head to the jib boom. -- Inner plate (Arch.), the wall plate which lies nearest to the center of the roof,in a double-plated roof. -- Inner post (Naut.), a piece brought on at the fore side of the main post, to support t…
JIB n.
A triangular sail set upon a stay or halyard extending from the foremast or fore-topmast to the bowsprit or the jib boom. Large vessels often carry several jibe; as, inner jib; outer jib; flying jib; etc.
MONKEY n.
arance of its gaping corolla. Gray. -- Monkey gaff (Naut.), a light gaff attached to the topmast for the better display of signals at sea. -- Monkey jacket, a short closely fitting jacket, worn by sailors. -- Monkey rail (Naut.), a second and lighter rail raised about six inches above the quarter rail of a ship. --…
PORTOISE n.
r them to the gunwale. -- To ride a portoise, to ride an anchor with the lower yards and topmasts struck or lowered, as in a gale of wind.
SHIP n.
(a mainmast, a foremast, and a mizzenmast), each of which is composed of a lower mast, a topmast, and a topgallant mast, and square-rigged on all masts. See Illustation in Appendix. l Port or Larboard Side; s Starboard Side; 1 Roundhouse or Deck House; 2 Tiller; 3 Grating; 4 Wheel; 5 Wheel Chains; 6 Binnacle; 7 Mizzen…
SHROUD n.
owsprit to the sides of the vessel. -- Futtock shrouds (Naut.), iron rods connecting the topmast rigging with the lower rigging, passing over the edge of the top. -- Shroud plate. (a) (Naut.) An iron plate extending from the dead- eyes to the ship's side. Ham. Nav. Encyc. (b) (Mach.) A shroud. See def. 7, above.…
SLIDING a.
surface of another, as distinguished from rolling friction. -- Sliding gunter (Naut.), a topmast arranged with metallic fittings so as to be hoisted and lowered by means of halyards. -- Sliding keel (Naut), a movable keel, similar to a centeboard. -- Sliding pair. (Mech.) See the Note under Pair, n., 7. -- Sliding…
SLOOP n.
-gaff mainsail, jibs, staysail, and gaff topsail. The typical sloop has a fixed bowsprit, topmast, and standing rigging, while those of a cutter are capable of being readily shifted. The sloop usually carries a centerboard, and depends for stability upon breadth of beam rather than depth of keel. The two types have rap…
SPAN n.
air of horses when similar in color, form, and action. Span blocks (Naut.), blocks at the topmast and topgallant-mast heads, for the studding-sail halyards. -- Span counter, an old English child's game, in which one throws a counter on the ground, and another tries to hit it with his counter, or to get his counter so…
STRIKE v.
rike sail; to strike a flag or an ensign, as in token of surrender; to strike a yard or a topmast in a gale; to strike a tent; to strike the centering of an arch.
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