halyard

Or hal·liard

[hal-yerd]

noun

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

halyard

/ ˈhæljəd /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of halyard¹

1325–75; Middle English halier rope to haul with ( hale ², -ier ¹ ) with final syllable altered by association with yard ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of halyard¹

C14: halier, influenced by _yard ¹ ; see _hale ²

Example Sentences

Bendersky cited how, in Los Angeles County, the fire department introduced a halyard to make putting up longer ladders and less physically strenuous.

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They brought wet sleeping bags and clothes up on deck and hung them from the masts, halyards, and rigging.

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The only sound was the splashing of waves against the Zenith’s hull and the halyards making music against the mast in the breeze.

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Lem was released from the brig again; they needed his weight on the halyards.

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Flag Code states: “When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak.”

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