MASSICOT. Yellow oxide of lead. MAST. A long piece or system of pieces of timber, placed nearly perpen dicular to the keel of a vessel to support the yards or gaffs on which the sails are extended. When the mast is one entire piece, it is called a pole-mast ; but in all larger vessels it is composed of several lengths, called lower, top, and top-gallant mast : sometimes a fourth, called a royal mast.
The method of supporting each mast on the one next below it is peculiar. On the sides of the lower mast, some feet below the head, are placed cheeks : on these are fixed horizontally two short pieces of wood, fore and aft, called trestle trees. Across these at right angles are laid, before and abaft the mast, two or more longer and lighter pieces, called cross trees, which give the name to the entire system. On the mast head itself is a cap. The topmast being placed up and down, the fore side of the lower mast is swayed up between the trestle trees, and through the round or foremast hole in the cap.
When raised so high that the heel of the topmast is nearly up to the surface of the cross trees, a piece of iron, called id, is put through the hole in the heel for the purpose ; and on this fid, of which the ends are supported on the trestle trees, the topmast rests. When fidded, the topmast is stayed, and the rigging or shroud set up to the dead eyes in the ends of the cross trees. These dead eyes pull from the lower rigging below, and thus the cross trees serve merely to extend the rigging. The topgallant is supported in the same manner on the topmast. When the mast is to be taken down, it is first raised to relieve the fid ; which being drawn out, the mast is lowered.
The masts are supported by a strong rope, leading forward, called the stay ; by others, leading aft on each side of the ship, called, in general, backstays ; and by others abreast, called shrouds, and also breast backstays.