mizzenmast

Noun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

third mast from the bow in a vessel having three or more masts; the after and shorter mast of a yawl, ketch, or dandySynonyms: mizenmast mizzen mizen

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Mast \Mast\, n. [AS. maest, masc.; akin to D., G., Dan., & Sw. mast, Icel. mastr, and perh. to L. malus.] [1913 Webster]

1.(Naut.) A pole, or long, strong, round piece of timber, or spar, set upright in a boat or vessel, to sustain the sails, yards, rigging, etc. A mast may also consist of several pieces of timber united by iron bands, or of a hollow pillar of iron or steel. [1913 Webster]

The tallest pine Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast Of some great ammiral.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

Note: The most common general names of masts are foremast, mainmast, and mizzenmast, each of which may be made of separate spars. [1913 Webster]

2.(Mach.) The vertical post of a derrick or crane. [1913 Webster]

3.(Aeronautics) A spar or strut to which tie wires or guys are attached for stiffening purposes. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Afore the mast, Before the mast. See under Afore, and Before.

Mast coat. See under Coat.

Mast hoop, one of a number of hoops attached to the fore edge of a boom sail, which slip on the mast as the sail is raised or lowered; also, one of the iron hoops used in making a made mast. See Made. [1913 Webster]

Mizzenmast \Miz"zen*mast\, n. (Naut.) the third mast from the bow in a vessel having three or more masts; the after and shorter mast of a yawl, ketch, or dandy.

Note: The definition varies slightly with the dictionary; in some dictionaries it is the last mast of a three-masted vessel; in others, it is the mast after the mainmast of a vessel of three or more masts. PJC. [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]