 From the 16th century, vessels were often built of a size requiring masts taller and thicker than could be made from single tree trunks.On these larger vessels, to achieve the required height, the masts were built from up to four sections (also called masts), known in order of rising height above the decks as the lower, top, topgallant and royal masts.Giving the lower sections sufficient thickness necessitated building them up from separate pieces of wood.