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two-master

Low
UK/ˈtuːˌmɑːstə/US/ˈtuːˌmæstər/

Technical/Nautical

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Definition

Meaning

A ship or boat that has two masts.

Can refer to any sailing vessel with two masts, often used in historical, nautical, or hobbyist contexts.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Specifically denotes the number of masts; distinct from rigging types like brig or schooner, which may also have two masts.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Primarily in pronunciation; no significant lexical or usage differences.

Connotations

Both refer to the same nautical concept with neutral connotations.

Frequency

Equally rare in both dialects, confined mainly to nautical or historical discussions.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
sailing two-masterhistoric two-master
medium
two-master shipwooden two-master
weak
small two-masterbeautiful two-master

Grammar

Valency Patterns

Noun phrase: a two-masterAttributive use: two-master vessel

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

double-master

Neutral

two-masted shipbrig

Weak

sailing vessel with two masts

Vocabulary

Antonyms

single-masterthree-master

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Rarely used; may appear in maritime industry or tourism contexts related to sailing.

Academic

Used in maritime history, naval architecture, or sailing studies.

Everyday

Very rare; typically only in specific hobbies like sailing or model shipbuilding.

Technical

Common in nautical terminology, sailing manuals, and ship classifications.

Examples

By Part of Speech

adjective

British English

  • a two-master vessel

American English

  • a two-master boat

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • Look at that two-master!
  • The two-master is big.
B1
  • A two-master has two masts for sailing.
  • We saw a old two-master in the harbour.
B2
  • Historically, two-masters were popular for coastal trade due to their maneuverability.
  • The crew repaired the rigging on the two-master.
C1
  • The aerodynamic efficiency of a two-master's sail plan requires careful balancing of the dual masts.
  • Maritime archaeologists often study wrecks of two-masters to understand 19th-century naval technology.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of 'two' masters controlling a ship, representing the two masts.

Conceptual Metaphor

Literal with no common metaphorical extensions; directly references physical ship structure.

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Direct translation to 'двухмачтовый' is accurate, but ensure context is nautical to avoid confusion with other 'master' meanings.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'two-masted' as a noun instead of 'two-master', or confusing it with specific rig types like schooner.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
A is a type of sailing ship characterized by having two masts.
Multiple Choice

What is the primary meaning of 'two-master'?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is a low-frequency technical term primarily used in nautical contexts.

Yes, it can be used attributively, as in 'two-master ship', functioning similarly to an adjective.

A brig is a specific type of two-masted ship with square rigging on both masts, while 'two-master' is a general term for any vessel with two masts.

In British English, it is pronounced /ˈtuːˌmɑːstə/, with a long 'a' sound in 'master'.