halyard
5
9.9
A rope that raises and lowers sails or flags on a ship
- noun
- /ˈhæljərd/
- Specialized
:
driza
- "I cut the halyard after the boom hit you."
- jib halyard
- halyard for the mast
- boom halyard
Examples
-
Secure the halyard!
-
Here, why don't you secure this halyard?
-
Make fast stunsail halyard, sir.
-
And then the halyard jammed!
-
A halyard was trailing in the water.
Fiction book (1990) -
Make fast your stunsail halyard.
-
Take the halyard off!
-
I noticed the halyard cleated to the mast.
-
Tighten the halyard.
-
To lower the flag, pull the halyard gently until it reaches the ground.
Synonyms
9.9
A rope on a ship for raising and lowering sails and flags
is used both on ships and at flagpoles rather than only on ships
9.9
A rope on a ship used to lift or lower things at the mast
focuses on sails, flags, and yards and also extends use to flagpoles
How Strong
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Halyard comes from two old words: haul meaning 'to pull' and yard meaning 'a long pole' on a ship. So a halyard is literally the rope you use to pull up or 'raise' a sail or flag, which is why it still means a rope for lifting things on a ship or flagpole.