main-topgallant Naut.
(ˌmeɪntɒpˈgælənt)
[See main a. 10 and topgallant.]
Used attrib. in main-topgallant-mast, the mast above the main-topmast; similarly in main-topgallant-masthead, main-topgallant-sail (-yard), main-topgallant-yard, etc.
| 1626 Capt. Smith Accid. Yng. Seamen 13 The maine top gallant sayle yeard. 1693 Oliver in Phil. Trans. XVII. 912 Our Main Top-Gallant Mast was split in pieces. 1748 Anson's Voy. ii. x. 239 One of the Captains..carries the royal standard of Spain at the main-top gallant mast-head. 1760 C. Johnston Chrysal (1822) II. 233 To hand the main-top-gallant sail in a storm at midnight. 1790 Beatson Nav. & Mil. Mem. II. 411 The man on the main-top-gallant-yard of the Rochester. 1876 Encycl. Brit. XXI. 153/1 On the main-mast we have the main-course or main-sail, main-top-sail, main-top-gallant-sail, and the main-royal. |