Acorn

nounStandard termMaritime

A small, ornamental piece of wood fixed to the very top of a mast.

A decorative and functional wooden cap or finial shaped like a cone or acorn, fitted to the top of the masthead spindle above the wind vane. It prevents the vane from blowing off the spindle in heavy weather while finishing off the top of the mast.

Heard on the job

The rigger had to climb all the way up to replace the split acorn on the mainmast.

Also heard as

  • Masthead truck