mainmast
noun [ C ] sailing specialized (also main mast) uk/ˈmeɪn.mɑːst/ us/ˈmeɪn.mæst/
（船的）主桅
the most important and tallest mast (= a tall pole that supports the sails) on a boat or ship
A few days later the ship lost her rudder and mainmast in a gale. 几天后，这艘船在大风中失去了舵和主桅。
When building a main mast, shipbuilders choose the tallest, strongest tree they can find. 在建造主桅时，造船工人会选择自己能找到的最高、最壮的树。
Compare: foremast
- More examples
- No distress message could be sent because the mainmast fell in the explosion, destroying the antennae.
- With the sun shining on them, the insects became more active, and climbed the mainmast.
- Norfolk Island was known to possess tall pines suitable for ships' mainmasts and spars.
- The stay that supports the main mast is called the mainstay. It is crucial to the ship's survival and in each ship there is only one.