a. Naut. [f. FORE- pref. + TOPGALLANT.] Used in Comb. fore-topgallant-mast, the mast above the fore-topmast; hence with sense of ‘of or belonging to the fore-topgallant-mast,’ as fore-topgallant-sail (-yard), -stay, -yard (-arm).
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., iv. 17. The fore top gallant Mast, the fore top gallant saile yard.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. 16. Take in your Main and Fore-top-gallant-sails.
1745. P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 138. The Slings of our Crossjack-Yards being broke, we fix’d new ones, and the next Day got up the Fore-top-gallant-mast and Yard.
1805. Nelson, 10 Oct., in Nicolas, Disp. (1846), VII. 104. When in presence of an Enemy, all the Ships under my command are to bear white Colours, and a Union Jack is to be suspended from the fore top-gallant stay.
1825. H. B. Gascoigne, Nav. Fame, 119.
| While far aloft, the fore-top gallant yard | |
| Is torn away, their progress to retard. |
1844. Regul. & Ord. Army, 35. The flag of the Lord High Admiral [shall be hoisted] at the fore-top-gallant-mast-head.
