noun
- horizontal wooden or metal bars that cross the mast of a sailing ship to support the rigging
Usage: nautical; usually plural
Examples
- The sailor climbed up to the crosstrees to adjust the rigging.
- From the crosstrees, the lookout could see for miles across the ocean.
- The ship’s crosstrees were reinforced with iron bands.
- Ice had formed on the crosstrees during the cold night at sea.
- The captain ordered repairs to the damaged crosstrees before setting sail.
- Birds often perched on the crosstrees when the ship was anchored.