YARD

Definitions

1. 1. A rod; a stick; a staff. [Obs.] P. Plowman. If men smote it with a yerde. Chaucer.
2. 2. A branch; a twig. [Obs.] The bitter frosts with the sleet and rain Destroyed hath the green in every yerd. Chaucer.
3. 3. A long piece of timber, as a rafter, etc. [Obs.]
4. 4. A measure of length, equaling three feet, or thirty-six inches, being the standard of English and American measure.
5. 5. The penis.
6. 6. A long piece of timber, nearly cylindrical, tapering toward the ends, and designed to support and extend a square sail. A yard is usually hung by the center to the mast. See Illust. of Ship. Golden Yard, or Yard and Ell (Astron.), a popular name the three stars in the belt of Orion. -- Under yard [i. e., under the rod], under contract. [Obs.] Chaucer.