A fitting on the deck of a barge or wherry to which the foot of the mast is fixed, allowing the mast to be lowered by pivoting when passing under bridges.
Example sentencesExamples
Presently being fitted out in Goole, the Lutchet and Mast Beam is now in place although the first sailing date is a long way off in the future.
The single mast was stepped in a lutchet, braced to the main beam at deck level by shrouds, and secured at the keelson.
Origin
Early 19th century: perhaps from the northern English dialect verb lutch 'lift', or an alteration of latchet.