halyard
/ˈhaljəd
/noun
A rope used for raising and lowering a sail, yard, or flag on a sailing ship.All stays, halyards and standing rigging are adjustable with tiny turubuckles, and four AA batteries power the servos and eight batteries run the hand control unit....
- All halyards and sail controls are led aft to the cockpit concealed under fiberglass panels so that there is nothing to foul or trip over.
- On those boats that have internal halyards, all halyards (except, again, the main) should be disconnected from the deck and hauled through until the shackles are two-blocked at the masthead.
Origin
Late Middle English halier, from hale2 + -ier. The change in the ending in the 18th century was due to association with yard1.