[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

mast \mast\, n. as. maest, masc.; akin to d., g., dan.,  sw.
   mast, icel. mastr, and perh. to l. malus.
   1913 webster
   1. naut. a pole, or long, strong, round piece of timber, or
      spar, set upright in a boat or vessel, to sustain the
      sails, yards, rigging, etc. a mast may also consist of
      several pieces of timber united by iron bands, or of a
      hollow pillar of iron or steel.
      1913 webster

            the tallest pine
            hewn on norwegian hills, to be the mast
            of some great ammiral.                --milton.
      1913 webster

   note: the most common general names of masts are foremast,
         mainmast, and mizzenmast, each of which may be made
         of separate spars.
         1913 webster

   2. mach. the vertical post of a derrick or crane.
      1913 webster

   3. aeronautics a spar or strut to which tie wires or guys
      are attached for stiffening purposes.
      webster 1913 suppl.

   afore the mast, before the mast. see under afore, and
      before.

   mast coat. see under coat.

   mast hoop, one of a number of hoops attached to the fore
      edge of a boom sail, which slip on the mast as the sail is
      raised or lowered; also, one of the iron hoops used in
      making a made mast. see made.
      1913 webster
see also:
foremast mainmast mizzenmast afore the mast before the mast afore 
before mast coat coat mast hoop made 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

before \before"\, prep. oe. beforen, biforen, before, as.
   beforan; pref. be- + foran, fore, before. see be-, and
   fore.
   1. in front of; preceding in space; ahead of; as, to stand
      before the fire; before the house.
      1913 webster

            his angel, who shall go
            before them in a cloud and pillar of fire. --milton.
      1913 webster

   2. preceding in time; earlier than; previously to; anterior
      to the time when; -- sometimes with the additional idea of
      purpose; in order that.
      1913 webster

            before abraham was, i am.             --john viii.
                                                  58.
      1913 webster

            before this treatise can become of use, two points
            are necessary.                        --swift.
      1913 webster

   note: formerly before, in this sense, was followed by that.
         "before that philip called thee . . . i saw thee."
         --john i. 48.
         1913 webster

   3. an advance of; farther onward, in place or time.
      1913 webster

            the golden age . . . is before us.    --carlyle.
      1913 webster

   4. prior or preceding in dignity, order, rank, right, or
      worth; rather than.
      1913 webster

            he that cometh after me is preferred before me.
                                                  --john i. 15.
      1913 webster

            the eldest son is before the younger in succession.
                                                  --johnson.
      1913 webster

   5. in presence or sight of; face to face with; facing.
      1913 webster

            abraham bowed down himself before the people. --gen.
                                                  xxiii. 12.
      1913 webster

            wherewith shall i come before the lord? --micah vi.
                                                  6.
      1913 webster

   6. under the cognizance or jurisdiction of.
      1913 webster

            if a suit be begun before an archdeacon. --ayliffe.
      1913 webster

   7. open for; free of access to; in the power of.
      1913 webster

            the world was all before them where to choose.
                                                  --milton.
      1913 webster

   before the mast naut., as a common sailor, -- because the
      sailors live in the forecastle, forward of the foremast.
      

   before the wind naut., in the direction of the wind and
      by its impulse; having the wind aft.
      1913 webster
see also:
be- fore before the mast before the wind 

Before >> B Words
Before, definition of term: Before
before_pag1.html

Mast >> M Words
Mast, definition of term: Mast
mast_pag1.html

Mast Cell >> M Words
Mast Cell, definition of term: Mast Cell
mast+cell_pag1.html