mizzen

or miz·en

[ miz-uh n ]
/ ˈmɪz ən /
Nautical

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

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