to which are attached the yards, the rigging, and the sails. It is
either formed of one piece, and called a pole-mast, or composed of
several pieces joined together and termed a made mast. A lower mast is
fixed in the ship by _sheers_ (which see), and the foot or keel of it
rests in a block of timber called the step, which is fixed upon the
keelson.--_Expending a mast_, or carrying it away, is said, when it is
broken by foul weather.--_Fore-mast._ That which stands near the stem,
and is next in size to the main-mast.--_Jury-mast._ (_See_
JURY-MAST.)--_Main-mast._ The largest mast in a ship.--_Mizen-mast._
The smallest mast, standing between the main-mast and the
stern.--_Over-masted_, or _taunt-masted_. The state of a ship whose
masts are too tall or too heavy.--_Rough-mast_, or _rough-tree_. A spar
fit for making a mast. (_See_ BOWSPRIT and JIB-BOOM.)--_Springing a
mast._ When it is cracked horizontally in any place.--_Top-mast._ A
top-mast is raised at the head or top of the lower-mast through a cap,
and supported by the trestle-trees.--_Topgallant-mast._ A mast smaller
than the preceding, raised and secured to its head in the same
manner.--_Royal-mast._ A yet smaller mast, elevated through irons at the
head of the topgallant-mast; but more generally the two are formed of
one spar.--_Under-masted_ or _low-masted ships_. Vessels whose masts are
small and short for their size.--_To mast a ship._ The act of placing a
ship's masts.

MAST-CARLINGS. Those large carlings which are placed at the sides of the
masts from beam to beam, to frame the partners and give support.

MAST-COAT. A conical canvas fitted over the wedges round the mast, to
prevent water oozing down from the decks.

MASTER. The epithet for the captain or commander of a merchant vessel.
When England first became a maritime power, ships with sailors, and a
master to navigate, were furnished by the Cinque Ports, &c., and the
fighting part of the men was composed of soldiers sent on board,
commanded by generals, &c. Among the early voyagers there was a
distinction between _master_ and _maister_, the latter being the office;
as, "we spoke the _Dragon_, whereof Master Ivie was maister," in Welsh's
_Voyage to Benin_, A.D. 1590. In most applications, _master_ denotes
chief; as master boat-builder, master caulker, master sail-maker, &c.

MASTER OF A SHIP-OF-WAR. An officer appointed by the commissioners of
the navy to attend to the navigating a ship under the dire