Before the mast

Before the mast
Before Be*fore", prep. [OE. beforen, biforen, before, AS. beforan; pref. be- + foran, fore, before. See {Be-}, and {Fore}.] 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]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Before the mast — Mast Mast, n. [AS. m[ae]st, masc.; akin to D., G., Dan., & Sw. mast, Icel. mastr, and perh. to L. malus.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Naut.) A pole, or long, strong, round piece of timber, or spar, set upright in a boat or vessel, to sustain the sails,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • before the mast — ► before the mast historical serving as an ordinary seaman (quartered in the forecastle). Main Entry: ↑mast …   English terms dictionary

  • before the mast — adverb or afore the mast 1. : forward of the foremast 2. : as a common sailor shipped before the mast on a trading ship bound for the Orient * * * before the mast Serving as an ordinary sailor • • • Main Entry: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • before the mast — historical serving as an ordinary seaman. → mast …   English new terms dictionary

  • before the mast — phrasal 1. forward of the foremast 2. as a common sailor …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • before the mast — adjective a) Having living quarters in the forecastle b) Describing seamen rather than officers …   Wiktionary

  • Two Years Before the Mast — is a book by the American author Richard Henry Dana, Jr., written after a two year sea voyage starting in 1834 and published in 1840. A film adaptation under the same name was released in 1946. Background While at Harvard College Dana had an… …   Wikipedia

  • Two Years Before the Mast (film) — Infobox Film name = Two Years Before the Mast image size = caption = director = John Farrow producer = Seton I. Miller writer = Richard Henry Dana, Jr. (novel) Seton I. Miller George Bruce narrator = starring = Alan Ladd Brian Donlevy William… …   Wikipedia

  • before the mast —  As an ordinary seaman …   A concise dictionary of English slang

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