mizen

miz·zen or miz·en  (mzn)

n. Nautical

1. A fore-and-aft sail set on the mizzenmast.

2. A mizzenmast.

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[Middle English mesan, from Old French misaine, Old Spanish mezana or Old Italian mezzana, all ultimately from Latin medinus, of the middle, from medius, middle; see medhyo- in Indo-European roots.]

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mizzen adj.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	mizen - third mast from the bow in a vessel having three or more masts; the after and shorter mast of a yawl, ketch, or dandy mizenmast, mizzen, mizzenmast mast - a vertical spar for supporting sails
	2.	mizen - fore-and-aft sail set on the mizzenmast mizzen fore-and-aft sail - any sail not set on a yard and whose normal position is in a fore-and-aft direction