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Glite Dictionary
mizzen course

mizzen course

9.9
The lowest sail on the mast at the back of a sailing ship
  • noun
  • /ˈmɪzən kɔrs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : vela de mesana
  • The crew quickly lowered the mizzen course as the storm approached.

Examples

  • Repairing a tear in the mizzen course required skilled hands and steady nerves.

  • During the regatta, the mizzen course was trimmed to maximize speed.

  • The mizzen course is set.

  • Adjust the mizzen course!

  • The crew quickly lowered the mizzen course to prepare for the rough weather ahead.

  • During the sailing competition, the skipper adjusted the mizzen course to maintain balance.

  • Before entering the harbor, they ensured the mizzen course was securely tied down.

Synonyms

mizzen
vsmizzen course
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A sail set on the rear mast that runs front to back

is the lowest sail on that mast rather than a general sail
spanker
vsmizzen course
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A sail at the back of a ship on the lowest mast

is specifically the lowest sail on that mast
crossjack
vsmizzen course
  • Archaic
9.9

A square sail set low on the rear mast called the mizzenmast of a large sailing ship

is the lowest sail on the aft mast for any sailing ship
mizen
vsmizzen course
  • Specialized
9.9

A sail set on the rear mast of a sailing ship

is the lowest sail on that mast emphasizing exact vertical position

Surface Forms

mizzen course singular
mizzen courses plural

Morphology

mizzen + course

This is a specialised nautical term whose specific sense ('the lowest sail set on the mizzenmast') is lexicalized and not directly recoverable from the ordinary meanings given: 'mizzen' (an aft sail) and 'course' (route/heading). Although 'mizzen' signals a sail, the noun 'course' does not normally mean 'a particular sail' to a B1 learner, so the precise meaning is unpredictable without nautical knowledge.

Etymology

Mizzen course comes from old sailing ships: the word mizzen named the smaller rear mast and course meant a large lower sail, so the mizzen course was the big bottom sail on the rear mast. That's why it now means 'the lowest sail set on the mizzenmast'.