WordNet
n. a mast fixed to the head of a topmast on a square-rigged vessel [syn: topgallant]
Usage examples of "topgallant mast".
Destroy the outer end of the jibboom and you could be fairly sure the jerk on the foreroyal stay would bring the highest, the foreroyal mast, toppling down, while smashing the whole jibboom would probably bring down the topgallant mast as well.
The Danes' fore-topgallant mast was falling, slewing round drunkenly as it fought against the pull of shrouds and stays before thundering over the side in a tremendous splash.
But the day after Christmas the wind grew quite moderate and we not only let a reef out of the maintopsail but also sent up the topgallant mast and yard: yet during the night it freshened once more and we close-reefed the topsails again, got the topgallant yard down on deck and shaped the mast.
I think the fore topmast stay caught it somehow too - anyway, it's weakened the fore topgallant mast.
Union flags were hoisted to the fore topgallant mast and to the main topmast stay so that every ship flew three flags.
She had a spare main topgallant mast at the fore, swayed up by main force and the grace of God in an impossible sea, a crossjack yard for her forecourse, and her knotted rigging was an ugly sight.
He had not been there more than five minutes, when a sudden squall carried away the main-topgallant mast, and away he went flying over to leeward (for the wind: had shifted, and the yards were now braced up).
He watched the lieutenant settle himself at the topgallant mast-head, adjust his glass, and sweep the horizon, and he waited impatiently for a report.
He never really decided to go the rest of the way up the topgallant mast.
She was far astern of the others, while work was continued to replace the main topgallant mast which had carried away in a sudden squall before they could shorten sail.
On the forecastle Babbington and a party of seamen had roused an almost undamaged topgallant mast from the wreckage of the booms and they were trying to make a jury foremast of it.
Then the topmast and topgallant mast broke off and tumbled messily to leeward.