Английский Этимологический словарь - mast (1)

- "pole on a ship to support the sail," O.E. mжst, from P.Gmc. *mastaz. Masthead is from 1748 as "top of a ship's mast," from 1838 as "top of a newspaper." The single mast of an old ship was the boundary between quarters of officers and crew, hence before the mast in the title of Dana's book, etc.