Ketch

A fore-and-aft rig where the forward mast is taller than the after mast, and the after mast is generally ahead of the steering position. The forward mast is called the mainmast and the after mast the mizzenmast. The mizzen sail area is roughly half of the main. Formerly the term was used to both describe a rig of these proportions on 17th and 18th century European vessels, and has been used to describe hull types.