halyard

[ hal-yerd ]

/ ˈhæl yərd /

any of various lines or tackles for hoisting a spar, sail, flag, etc., into position for use.

Origin of halyard

1325–75; Middle English halier rope to haul with (see hale², -ier¹) with final syllable altered by association with yard¹

halutz, halvah, halve, halvers, halves, halyard, halysites, halévy, ham, ham up, ham's test

Hildebrand and Halyard, muffled in long cloaks, and having their hats bound with mourning-bands, followed mournfully in its wake.

Hildebrand |Anonymous
He stumbled to the sail; but his fingers were all thumbs, and he could not untie the halyard.

Down The River |Oliver Optic
Yes,” he answered; “I have used it as a halyard on my sledge-sail all the time.

Farthest North |Fridtjof Nansen
As for Halyard, he was unspeakable, bundled up in his snuffy shawls, and making uncouth noises over his gruel.

In Search of the Unknown |Robert W. Chambers

"It is all up with us," said Mr. Carboy, the mate, as he dropped the halyard.

The Coming Wave |Oliver Optic

halyard

/ (ˈhæljəd) /

nautical a line for hoisting or lowering a sail, flag, or spar

C14: halier, influenced by yard 1; see hale ²