Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The mast next above the foretopmast.
Etymologies
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Examples
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Thus we have foretopmast, maintopmast and mizzentopmast, and over them foretopgallantmast, maintopgallantmast and mizzentopgallantmast.
Golden Days for Boys and Girls, Vol. XIII, Nov. 28, 1891 Various
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Next came the foretopgallantmast, which smashed a couple of boats.
"Where Angels Fear to Tread" and Other Stories of the Sea Morgan Robertson 1888
chained_bear commented on the word foretopgallantmast
I just love words like this. They seem so German in their prodigious length and compoundiness.
Usage: "As it was his sails were much tattered, a fire had started in the starboard head, one cutter had been destroyed and the foretopgallantmast wounded before he ran out of range." --Patrick O'Brian, The Surgeon's Mate, 256
February 8, 2008
skipvia commented on the word foretopgallantmast
Wow. That word could do with a few well-placed apostrophes, as in fo'c's'le. Of course, that would destroy the compoundiness, replacing it with apostrophism.
February 8, 2008
reesetee commented on the word foretopgallantmast
Compoundiness? What a fantastic madeupical word!
February 8, 2008
chained_bear commented on the word foretopgallantmast
Here's another usage: "Jack looked up at the rising foretopgallantmast with a smile: there was order in that apparent chaos of men, spars and ropes, and Tom Pullings had the whole operation well in hand."
--The Ionian Mission, 50
Kind of reminds me of the word itself--there is order in that apparent redundant compoundiness.
February 11, 2008