miz(z)en

views updated

miz(z)en (naut.) fore-and-aft sail set on the mizen mast (the aftermost mast of a three-masted ship). XV (mesan, -eyn, -on). — F. misaine (now, foresail, foremast) — It. mezzana, sb. use of fem. of mezzano middle; forms with mi- appear in XVI.

More From encyclopedia.com