Meaning of before the mast | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Having living quarters in the forecastle of a vessel
   literally, not-comparable
2. Describing seamen rather than officers
   not-comparable

Examples

“Before making lieutenant, he sailed before the mast for five years”

“[...] but under certain circumstances (night watches on a whaling ground) the command of the ship’s deck is also his; therefore the grand political maxim of the sea demands, that he should nominally live apart from the men before the mast, and be in some way distinguished as their professional superior; [...]”

CEFR level