Yard

A yard is a horizontal or near-horizontal spar crossed athwart a mast to carry and spread a square sail; the sail’s head bends to it, and the yard hoists, lowers, and braces around to trim the sail to the wind. Square-rigged ships set several yards per mast, named for their position (course yard lowest, then topsail, topgallant, royal yards). The yard pivots at the mast on a truss or parrel and is controlled by lifts, braces, and halyards. The word also names a shipyard, an enclosed area for building or repairing ships.