overmast

English

Etymology

over- +‎ mast

Verb

overmast (third-person singular simple present overmasts, present participle overmasting, simple past and past participle overmasted)

1. To furnish with a mast or masts overly tall or heavy.
   • 1838, Benjamin Franklin, edited by Jared Sparks, The works of Benjamin Franklin, volume 6:

     The double desire of being able to overtake a weaker flying enemy, or to escape when pursued by a stronger, has induced the owners to overmast their cruisers, and to spread too much canvass; […]