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

“You want the halyard on now?”

From Seattle Times

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

From Seattle Times

“You wouldn’t throw much weight on a halyard—that's one thing sure. But you’d do all right as ship’s clerk. You might work up to supercargo.”

From Literature

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.”

From Seattle Times

Halyard, 39, notes that she often didn’t see reflections of herself in mainstream media.

From Washington Post