A yard is a heavy wooden or metal spar hoisted on a mast to support and spread a sail. On square-rigged vessels, yards are mounted horizontally across the mast and pivot to catch the wind. On fore-and-aft rigs, such as lateen or lug rigs, the yard hangs obliquely. The ends of the yard are called yardarms, and the gear used to control its angle includes braces and lifts.
Heard on the job
Send a hand aloft to clear that fouled block on the topsail yard.
Insider tip
While civilians often call the whole spar a yardarm, mariners know the yardarm is only the very outer tip of the yard.
Also heard as
- yardarm