[f. FORE- pref. (and FORE prep.) + MAST.]
1. The forward lower-mast in all vessels.
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Cong. E. Ind., iv. 25 b. Finding some of their enimies amongst the cheines of the tacklings of their formast, who perceiuing how they were discouered, sodainly cast themselues vnder water.
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Ostay, a cord that goeth from the boltsprit to the saile of the foremast.
1697. Dampier, Voy., I. xvi. 452. The fury of the Wind still lasted, and took the Ship on the Starboard bow with such violence, that it snapt off the Boltsprit and Fore-mast both at once, and blew the Ship all along.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. i. The Mate and Boatswain begg’d the Master of our Ship to let them cut away the Fore-mast.
1848. W. Irving, Columbus, I. 240. The latter, however, from the weakness of her foremast, could not hold the wind, and was obliged to scud before it, directly north.
2. ? The station of being ‘before the mast’; only attrib., as foremast man, seaman, a sailor below the rank of a petty officer; hence quasi-adj., characteristic of a foremast man.
1626. Capt. Smith, Accid. Yng. Seamen, 6. The Younkers are the yong men called Foremast men.
1707. Lond. Gaz., No. 4366/3. Eighty of the Foremast-Men belonging to the Jersey were … order’d to be discharged.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 163. In the light of a foremast seaman, he appeared to be quite a Genius.
1813. Byron, Island, II. xx.
| His foremast air, and somewhat rolling gait, | |
| Like his dear vessel, spoke his former state. |
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 303. It could not be concealed that he was inferior in seamanship to every foremast man on board.
