fore-topmast

[ fawr-top-mast, -mahst, fohr-; Nautical fawr-top-muh st, fohr- ]

/ ˌfɔrˈtɒpˌmæst, -ˌmɑst, ˌfoʊr-; Nautical ˌfɔrˈtɒp məst, ˌfoʊr- /

the spar or section of a pole mast serving as the topmast of a foremast on a ship.

Origin of fore-topmast

First recorded in 1620–30

Her fore-topmast showed but a splintered stump just above the fore-mast cap.

The Viking Blood |Frederick William Wallace
Down he slid by the main-topmast-stay, and in an instant more he was climbing the fore-topmast rigging.

A Voyage round the World |W.H.G. Kingston
Here he cut the stop of the fore-topmast halyards, overhauled the running part, and let the block swing in.

Homeward Bound |James Fenimore Cooper
He also thought it possible to set a fore-topmast stay-sail flying.

Homeward Bound |James Fenimore Cooper

The men were at work getting in the fore-topmast stun'-sail, and some were aloft rigging in the boom.

The Wreck of the Grosvenor, Volume 1 of 3 |William Clark Russell

fore-topmast

/ (fɔːˈtɒpˌmɑːst, nautical fɔːˈtɒpməst) /

nautical a mast stepped above a foremast