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prettygoodwordmizzen or mizen (MIZ-uhn) - (nautical) n., on a three- or more masted ship, the third mast back from the bow; on a two-masted ship such as a ketch or yawl, the shorter rear mast; a fore-and-aft sail on a mizzenmast. adj., of, pertaining to, or located on the mizzenmast, esp. a sail, yard, boom, etc. of the same.
First used in the early 15th century. Like most nautical jargon, the source is obscure -- about the only thing clear about it is that it ultimately comes from Latin medianus, of the middle, but by what route and how it shifted to rear is a mystery. Possible routes include one or more of Spanish mesana (sail set amidships), French misaine (foremast/foremast), Catalan mitjana (middle), or Italian mezzana (middle). This middle is all a muddle.
---L.
First used in the early 15th century. Like most nautical jargon, the source is obscure -- about the only thing clear about it is that it ultimately comes from Latin medianus, of the middle, but by what route and how it shifted to rear is a mystery. Possible routes include one or more of Spanish mesana (sail set amidships), French misaine (foremast/foremast), Catalan mitjana (middle), or Italian mezzana (middle). This middle is all a muddle.
---L.
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Date: 2010-09-15 10:56 pm (UTC)I trotted out my favourite nautical joke "Have you seen my mizzen mast? It's mizzen" to my beloved (who naturally rolled her eyes and ignored me), only to be told by a member of the crew "No it's not, it's back there, nearest to the stern". :-)
I decided to forgo the joke about buccaneers at that point. :-)
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Date: 2010-09-15 11:29 pm (UTC)