The edifices rising into the calm atmosphere seemed like the anchored vessels of some fleet arrested in its course, with lofty Masting which glittered at the sun's farewell.
"The Three Cities Trilogy: Paris, Vol. 2"
Emile Zola
But long cranes, used for Masting vessels, were reared on the summit of the ramparts; and from them there descended some of those enormous pincers which terminated in two semicircles toothed on the inside.
"Salammbo"
Gustave Flaubert
As the arrangement of the spars forced the principal mast entirely beneath the element, and the ship was so small as to need little artificial work in her Masting, the part around the top, which contained the staging, was scarcely submerged.
"The Water-Witch or, The Skimmer of the Seas"
James Fenimore Cooper