Meaning: The wind was blowing very strongly and making a loud noise as it passed through the ropes on the mast of the boat.
Choice of Words: The word "howled" is a verb that means to make a long, loud, and mournful sound. "Wind" is the moving air that we feel and see. "Mast" is a tall pole on a boat that supports the sails. "Ropes" are thick, strong cords used to tie or hold things together. When you put them together, the sentence "Wind howled through mast ropes" creates a vivid image of the wind making a loud noise as it passes through the ropes on the mast of a boat.