/miz"euhn/ , Naut.
n.
1. a fore-and-aft sail set on a mizzenmast. Cf. crossjack, spanker (def. 1a). See diag. under ship .
2. mizzenmast.
adj.
3. of or pertaining to a mizzenmast.
4. noting a sail, yard, boom, etc., or any rigging belonging to a mizzen lower mast or to some upper mast of a mizzenmast.
5. 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.
Also, mizen .
[ 1375-1425; late ME meson, mesan, prob. mezzana ]