jack staff

a flagstaff at the bow of a vessel, on which a jack is flown.

Origin of jack staff

First recorded in 1685–95

Don't appear to be any night-hawk on the jack-staff—it's the Amaranth, dead sure!

The Gilded Age, Complete |Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner
You marked each one's jack-staff, that rose mast high from the unseen prow, and behind it the boiler deck, high over the boilers.

Gideon's Band |George W. Cable
That night a fog rolled up from the swamps, and in the morning jack-staff was hid from pilot-house.

The Crisis, Complete |Winston Churchill
Close at hand was a jack-staff upholding an American ensign.

"Forward, March" |Kirk Munroe

The Captain of the transport, his face purple with passion, was rushing towards the jack-staff.

"Forward, March" |Kirk Munroe