foreyard

[ fawr-yahrd, fohr- ]

/ ˈfɔrˌyɑrd, ˈfoʊr- /

noun

a yard on the lower mast of a square-rigged foremast of a ship used to support the foresail.

a yard on the lowest spar of the foremast of a topsail schooner used to hold out the clews of the topsail or lower topsails.

a yard forming the main lower mast of a ketch or yawl used to support a square course.

Nearby words

Origin of foreyard

First recorded in 1620–30; fore- + yard²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for foreyard

I can see her bowsprit-cap hen she lifts; and half an hour ago I only saw her foreyard.
Frank Mildmay|Captain Frederick Marryat
The foreyard, which did very well for mooring the anchors, was quite inadequate to the transport of passengers and provisions.
In Search of the Castaways|Jules Verne
These vessels bore at their bowsprit, and at their cross-jack, as well as at the main and foreyard, groups of corpses.
The Buccaneer Chief|Gustave Aimard
By this time the 'sun is over the foreyard' and all are settling down for a fine race.
Yachting Vol. 2|Various.

Sir Edward, who was leaning on the foreyard, watched her with admiration, but extreme anxiety.
The Life of Admiral Viscount Exmouth|Edward Osler

British Dictionary definitions for foreyard

foreyard

/ (ˈfɔːˌjɑːd) /

noun

nautical a yard for supporting the foresail of a square-rigger

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012