English

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Etymology

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From over- +‎ mast.

Verb

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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; []