mast
UK[mɑːst]US[mæst]
n
A tall upright post on a ship or boat, supporting sails or rigging.
n
A tall upright structure, especially one used for broadcasting or as a lookout.
Etymology
The word 'mast' has a direct lineage from Proto-Germanic mastaz, which referred to a pole or a post. This term is further traceable to the Proto-Indo-European root mazdos, meaning a young tree or a pole. The semantic journey is straightforward: from the general concept of a tall, straight wooden pole, the meaning specialized in the nautical context of Northwest Germanic languages to denote the specific pole on a ship that holds the sails. This concrete, functional meaning has persisted into modern English, while also extending metaphorically to similar tall structures on land.
Analysis
The word 'mast' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It functions as a single, unanalyzable root in modern English.
Examples
The sailor climbed the mast to get a better view of the horizon.
The ship's sails were tightly furled against the mast during the storm.
A television mast was erected on the hill to improve signal reception.