The semicircular platform which rests upon the crosstrees at the head of a lower mast. It serves to spread the topmast shrouds, so as to form a greater angle to the mast and support it better. Tops are named after the mast to which they belong, e.g. foretop, maintop, mizzen top.
Iplatifomu yesiqingatha sesangqa apho ihlala khona (crosstrees) entloko yemasti engaphantsi. Isetyenziselwa ukwandisa iintambo ezibamba imasti, ukwenza i-engile enkulu kwimasti nokuyixhasa bhetele. Imiphezulu ithiywe emva kwemasti apho ingamalungu khona: umzekelo: umphambili womphezulu owona mphezulu, umphezulu ongasemva.