▪ I. † ˈmasty, a. Obs.
[f. mast n.2 + -y1.]
1. Producing mast.
| 1575 Turberv. Venerie 217 In the vineyards in the hollow mastie woods. 1592 R. D. Hypnerotomachia 32 Shaddowed with greene and tender leaues of mastie Okes, Beeches [etc.]. 1611 Cotgr., Glandeux, mastie, full of Mast. 1630 J. Taylor (Water P.) Satyre Wks. ii. 259/2 The Masty Beeche. |
2. Of a swine: Fattened. (Cf. masted a. and mestif, mastiff a. 1.)
| c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame iii. 687 Ye masty [Fairf. MS. maisty] swyne, ye idyll wrechys. 1530 Palsgr. 318/1 Masty fatte as swyne be, gras. |
3. Burly, big-bodied; = mastiff a. 3.
| 1665 Hooke Microgr. 164 Some few of these stout and resolute soldiers with these little engines, do often put to flight a huge masty Bear. 1687 Miege Gt. Fr. Dict. ii. s.v., A masty Fellow, un gros Paisan. 1886 S.W. Linc. Gloss., Masty, very large and big: as ‘They're a masty family’. |
▪ II. masty
obs. and dial. form of mastiff.