Nautical Term: Hounds
Definition of Hounds
The term ‘Hounds’ refers to the mast head projections found on sailing vessels. In larger ships, these hounds support the trestle trees and the tops of the mast and rigging. In smaller vessels without trestle trees, the term ‘hounds’ is applied to that portion of the mast where the hound band for attaching the shrouds is fitted.
For example, in the following paragraph, the term ‘hounds’ is used to describe the mast head projections that support the rigging of a sailing vessel.
The tall ship sailed majestically into the harbor. The sails were set and the hounds, those mast head projections, held tight the rigging as the ship glided smoothly into her berth.
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