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halyard

 - 3 dictionary results

hal⋅yard

[hal-yerd]
–noun
any of various lines or tackles for hoisting a spar, sail, flag, etc., into position for use.
Also, halliard.


Origin:
1325–75; ME halier rope to haul with (see hale 2 , -ier 1 ) with final syllable altered by assoc. with yard 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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hal·yard also hal·liard   (hāl'yərd)   
n.   Nautical
A rope used to raise or lower a sail, flag, or yard.

[Alteration (influenced by yard1) of Middle English halier, from halen, to pull; see hale2.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

halyard 
1611, from M.E. halier, from halen "to haul" (see hale (v.)). Spelling infl. by yard "long beam that supports a sail."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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