masthead truck

A masthead truck is a nautical term for a wooden cap at the top of a mast, with holes in it through which halyards are passed. Trucks are also used on wooden flagpoles, to prevent them from splitting.

Without a masthead truck, water could easily seep into the circular growth rings of a wooden mast. However, the grain in the truck is perpendicular to that of the mast, allowing the water to run off of it.

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