tophamper

[ top-ham-per ]

/ ˈtɒpˌhæm pər /

the light upper sails and their gear and spars, sometimes used to refer to all spars and gear above the deck.

any unnecessary weight, either aloft or about the upper decks.

Origin of tophamper

First recorded in 1785–95; top¹ + hamper¹

All the same, if you cut out this top-hamper the story of The Veiled Woman on its personal side is distinctly a good one.

Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 156, Jan. 15, 1919 |Various
All her top-hamper had been taken down by Spike, and nothing remained but the plainest and most readily-managed gear.

Jack Tier or The Florida Reef |James Fenimore Cooper
Every spar, rope, and stay was strained, and some of the “top-hamper” came crashing down.

Dracula |Bram Stoker
There was scarcely sea enough to tremble the top-hamper of the unsuspecting man-of-war.

A Little Traitor to the South |Cyrus Townsend Brady

Keeping his eyes open and his mouth shut involved dropping all unnecessary "top-hamper" as he himself phrased it.

Command |William McFee