Etymology

mast

M3A1S1T1

Today it means: A tall, slim post or tower, usually tapering upward, used to support, for example, sails or observation platforms on a ship, the main rotor of a helicopter, flags, floodlights, meteorological instruments, or communications equipment, such as an aerial, usually supported by guy-wires (except in the case of a helicopter). Full definition →

First used 9th c.Middle English mast ← Old English mæst ← Proto-West Germanic *mast
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mast · noun, verb1

  1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*mazdos“pole, mast”
  2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*mastaz“mast, sail-pole”
  3. Proto-West Germanic · derived from*mast
  4. Old English · derived frommæst“mast”
  5. Middle English · derived frommast
  6. English todaymast

From Middle English mast, from Old English mæst (“mast”), from Proto-West Germanic *mast, from Proto-Germanic *mastaz (“mast, sail-pole”), from Proto-Indo-European *mazdos (“pole, mast”). Cognate with Dutch mast, German Mast, and via Indo-European with Latin mālus, Russian мост (most, “bridge”), Irish adhmad.

mast · noun, verb2

  1. Old English · derived frommæst“fallen nuts, food for swine”
  2. English todaymast

From Old English mæst (“fallen nuts, food for swine”) and mæstan (“to fatten”), from West Germanic; probably related to meat.

mast · noun3

Clipping of Masteron.

mast · noun4

  1. French · derived frommasse
  2. English todaymast

From French masse, with -t probably after Etymology 1, above.

Mast · proper noun5

* As a Dutch surname, from the noun mast (“mast (pole on a ship)”). * Also as a Dutch surname, from the noun mast (“fodder”). * As a German and Alemannic German surname, from the noun Mast (“fat”), itself related to the sense of "fodder" above.

Words from the same roots

Frenchmasse all →

massemassé

First known use, by meaning

  • from 9th c. A tall, slim post or tower, usually tapering upward, used to support, for example, sails or observation platforms on a ship, the main rotor of a helicopter, flags, floodlights, meteorological instruments, or communications equipment, such as an aerial, usually supported by guy-wires (except in the case of a helicopter).
  • from 17th c. A nonjudicial punishment ("NJP"); a disciplinary hearing under which a commanding officer studies and disposes of cases involving those under his command; a meritorious mast.
  • from 16th c. To supply and fit a mast to (a ship).
  • from 10th c. The fruit of forest-trees (beech, oak, chestnut, pecan, etc.), especially if having fallen from the tree, used as fodder for pigs and other animals.
  • 18th–19th c. A type of heavy cue, with the broad end of which one strikes the ball.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.