A rope or cable used for raising and lowering sails, flags, or yards on a ship or boat.
From Middle English, combining 'hale' (to pull or haul) and 'yard' (the horizontal pole from which sails hang). The word directly reflects the rope's function of hauling the yard up and down.
Halyards are the unsung heroes of sailing—a ship can't actually sail without them, yet most people have never heard the word. On a tall ship, there might be dozens of different halyards, each with a specific purpose.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.