n. (Naut.) The hindmost of the fore and aft sails of a three-masted vessel; also, the spanker. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ It. mezzana, fr. mezzano middle, fr. mezzo middle, half: cf. F. misaine foresail. See Mezzo. ] (Naut.) Hindmost; nearest the stern;
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. 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 ]