Lewis & Short

3. mālus, i, m. [by some referred to root mac-; Gr. μακρος; Lat. magnus; but perh. the same word with 2. malus], an upright mast, pole, or beam.

  1. I. In gen.: malos exaequantes altitudinem jugi surrexit, Front. Strat. 3, 8, 3.
  2. II. Esp.
    1. A. A mast of a ship: ut si qui gubernatorem in navigando agere nihil dicant, cum alii malos scandant, etc., Cic. Sen. 6, 17: malum erigi, vela fieri imperavit, id. Verr. 2, 5, 34, § 88: attolli malos, Verg. A. 5, 829: malo suspendit ab alto, id. ib. 5, 489: saucius, injured, Hor. C. 1, 14, 5.
    2. B. A standard or pole, to which the awnings spread over the theatre were attached, Lucr. 6, 110; Liv. 39, 7, 8.
    3. C. The beam in the middle of a wine-press, Plin. 18, 31, 74, § 317.
    4. D. The corner beams of a tower: turrium mali, Caes. B. G. 7, 22, 4.