The french derivative LATEEN?

A few years back I took an anthropolgy cl on mexican heritage, and the instructor spoke about how the word LATEEN was actually from the french. We were told that when the french came to inhabit Mexico, they called everyone lateens, but everywhere I try to validate this information it says that the word means a sails triangular mast. Does anyone know where I can prove this word to be true or not, thanks..