mizzen
or miz·en
[ miz-uh n ]
/ ˈmɪz ən /
noun
a fore-and-aft sail set on a mizzenmast.
Compare crossjack, spanker(def 1a).
adjective
of or relating to a mizzenmast.
noting a sail, yard, boom, etc., or any rigging belonging to a mizzen lower mast or to some upper mast of a mizzenmast.
noting any stay running aft and upward to the head of a mizzen lower mast or some specified upper mast of a mizzenmast: mizzen topmast stay.
Origin of mizzen
1375–1425; late Middle English
meson, mesan, probably < Italian
mezzana
Words nearby mizzen
Example sentences from the Web for mizzen
British Dictionary definitions for mizzen
mizzen
mizen
nautical
noun
a sail set on a mizzenmast
short for mizzenmast
adjective
of or relating to any kind of gear used with a mizzenmast
a mizzen staysail
Word Origin for mizzen
C15: from French
misaine, from Italian
mezzana, mezzano middle