The mizen yard five ninths of an inch to one yard.
All studding-sail booms and yards half an inch to one yard in length.
The lifts of the main-yard are exhibited in the above figure, by g; the horses and their stirrups, by h, i; the reef-tackles and their pendants, by k, l; and the braces and brace-pendants, by m, n.
The lateen-yards evidently derive their names from having been peculiar to the ancient Romans. They are usually composed of several pieces fastened together by wooldings, which also serve as steps whereby the sailors climb to the peek, or upper extremity, in order to furl or cast loose the sail.
The mizen-yard of a ship, and the main-yard of a bilander, are hung obliquely on the mast, almost in the same manner as the lateen-yard of a xebec, settee, or polacre. See those articles.
To brace the Yards, brasser, is to traverse them about the masts, so as to form greater or lesser angles with the ship’s length. See Brace.
To square the Yards. See Lift and Square.
Dock-Yard. See the article Dock-yard.
YAW, a name given by seamen to the movement by which a ship deviates from the line of her course towards the right or left in steering.
YAWL, a small ship’s boat, usually rowed by four or six oars. See Boat.