mast

Mast has several related meanings in English, with the most familiar being nautical and structural. In sailing, a mast is a tall vertical pole on a ship or boat that supports the sails, rigging, and sometimes yards from which sails are set. Ships may have a single mast or multiple masts, such as the mainmast, foremast, and mizzenmast. Masts are typically made of wood in historical vessels and metal or composite materials in modern ones, and they may carry extensions like topmasts. The term also appears in phrases such as masthead, which refers to the top of the mast.

A second common sense refers to a structural tower used to carry communications equipment. In modern infrastructure, a mast is a tall vertical structure that supports antennas for radio, television, and mobile networks. These masts are usually guyed or freestanding, and they may include platforms, lights, and other hardware for maintenance and operation. They are designed to minimize sway and withstand weather while maximizing signal coverage.

In forestry and ecology, mast denotes the production of seeds or fruits by trees, especially those that feed wildlife. A mast year is a period when trees such as oaks, beeches, or chestnuts produce large crops of nuts or seeds. Conversely, a poor mast year yields fewer nuts and seeds. Given the distinction between hard mast (nut-like seeds) and soft mast (berries and other fruit), mast availability can influence wildlife populations and forest dynamics for subsequent seasons.

Other uses are more specialized, but these core senses cover the common meanings of mast in maritime, infrastructural, and ecological contexts.