before the mast
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
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 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]
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]