'Before the mast' definitions:

Definition of 'Before the mast'

From: GCIDE
  • Mast \Mast\, n. [AS. maest, masc.; akin to D., G., Dan., & Sw. mast, Icel. mastr, and perh. to L. malus.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. (Naut.) A pole, or long, strong, round piece of timber, or spar, set upright in a boat or vessel, to sustain the sails, yards, rigging, etc. A mast may also consist of several pieces of timber united by iron bands, or of a hollow pillar of iron or steel. [1913 Webster]
  • The tallest pine Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast Of some great ammiral. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: The most common general names of masts are foremast, mainmast, and mizzenmast, each of which may be made of separate spars. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Mach.) The vertical post of a derrick or crane. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Aeronautics) A spar or strut to which tie wires or guys are attached for stiffening purposes. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  • Afore the mast, Before the mast. See under Afore, and Before.
  • Mast coat. See under Coat.
  • Mast hoop, one of a number of hoops attached to the fore edge of a boom sail, which slip on the mast as the sail is raised or lowered; also, one of the iron hoops used in making a made mast. See Made. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Before the mast'

From: GCIDE
  • Before \Be*fore"\, prep. [OE. beforen, biforen, before, AS. beforan; pref. be- + foran, fore, before. See Be-, and Fore.]
  • 1. In front of; preceding in space; ahead of; as, to stand before the fire; before the house. [1913 Webster]
  • His angel, who shall go Before them in a cloud and pillar of fire. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Preceding in time; earlier than; previously to; anterior to the time when; -- sometimes with the additional idea of purpose; in order that. [1913 Webster]
  • Before Abraham was, I am. --John viii. 58. [1913 Webster]
  • Before this treatise can become of use, two points are necessary. --Swift. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Formerly before, in this sense, was followed by that. "Before that Philip called thee . . . I saw thee." --John i. 48. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. An advance of; farther onward, in place or time. [1913 Webster]
  • The golden age . . . is before us. --Carlyle. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Prior or preceding in dignity, order, rank, right, or worth; rather than. [1913 Webster]
  • He that cometh after me is preferred before me. --John i. 15. [1913 Webster]
  • The eldest son is before the younger in succession. --Johnson. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. In presence or sight of; face to face with; facing. [1913 Webster]
  • Abraham bowed down himself before the people. --Gen. xxiii. 12. [1913 Webster]
  • Wherewith shall I come before the Lord? --Micah vi. 6. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. Under the cognizance or jurisdiction of. [1913 Webster]
  • If a suit be begun before an archdeacon. --Ayliffe. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. Open for; free of access to; in the power of. [1913 Webster]
  • The world was all before them where to choose. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • Before the mast (Naut.), as a common sailor, -- because the sailors live in the forecastle, forward of the foremast.
  • Before the wind (Naut.), in the direction of the wind and by its impulse; having the wind aft. [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'Before the mast'