mizzen

or miz·en

[ miz-uhn ]
See synonyms for mizzen on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a fore-and-aft sail set on a mizzenmast.: Compare crossjack, spanker (def. 1a).

adjective
  1. of or relating to a mizzenmast.

  2. noting a sail, yard, boom, etc., or any rigging belonging to a mizzen lower mast or to some upper mast of a mizzenmast.

  1. 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

1
1375–1425; late Middle English meson, mesan, probably <Italian mezzana

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use mizzen in a sentence

  • On yawls with gaff-headed mizzens the mast is frequently too short; consequently the head of the sail cannot be kept in place.

    On Yachts and Yacht Handling | Thomas Fleming Day

British Dictionary definitions for mizzen

mizzen

noun
  1. a sail set on a mizzenmast

  2. short for mizzenmast

adjective
  1. of or relating to any kind of gear used with a mizzenmast: a mizzen staysail

Origin of mizzen

1
C15: from French misaine, from Italian mezzana, mezzano middle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012