mizzen

American  

[miz-uhn] / ˈmɪz ən /

Or mizen

noun

1. a fore-and-aft sail set on a mizzenmast.

2. mizzenmast.

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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.

3. 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.

mizzen British  

/ ˈmɪzən /

noun

1. a sail set on a mizzenmast

2. short for mizzenmast

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adjective

1. of or relating to any kind of gear used with a mizzenmast

   a mizzen staysail

Etymology

Origin of mizzen

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

Example Sentences

I now have to keep fencing with Accrux while I have managed to throw your sword flying and getting stuck into the mizzen mast.

From Economist • Nov. 15, 2012

The greatest living hero of the sea, 70-year-old Sir Francis Chichester sailed slowly back toward England under foresails and mizzen, his mainsail furled �out of the 54-ship transatlantic race that began June 17.

From Time Magazine Archive

The top of the Bristol's mainmast was shot clean off, and her mizzen was splintered.

From Time Magazine Archive

To its critics, it seemed a perfectly preserved specimen of 19th century British culture, like a sailing ship in a sealed bottle�even to the Union Jack at the mizzen top.

From Time Magazine Archive

After this defection the Golden Hinde took the place of the Vice-Admiral, and hoisted her flag from the mizzen to the foretop.

From Great Ralegh by Selincourt, Hugh de