Part 9

Yard, n. [OE. yard, yerd, AS. geard; akin to OFries. garda garden, OS. gardo garden, gard yard, D. gaard garden, G. garten, OHG. garto garden, gari inclosure, Icel. garðr yard, house, Sw. gård, Dan. gaard, Goth. gards a house, garda sheepfold, L. hortus garden, Gr. cho`rtos an inclosure. Cf. Court, Garden, Garth, Horticulture, Orchard.]

1. An inclosure; usually, a small inclosed place in front of, or around, a house or barn; as, a courtyard; a cowyard; a barnyard.

A yard . . . inclosed all about with sticks In which she had a cock, hight chanticleer.

Chaucer.

2. An inclosure within which any work or business is carried on; as, a dockyard; a shipyard.

Liberty of the yard, a liberty, granted to persons imprisoned for debt, of walking in the yard, or within any other limits prescribed by law, on their giving bond not to go beyond those limits. -- Prison yard, an inclosure about a prison, or attached to it. -- Yard grass (Bot.), a low-growing grass (Eleusine Indica) having digitate spikes. It is common in dooryards, and like places, especially in the Southern United States. Called also crab grass. -- Yard of land. See Yardland.

Yard, v. t. To confine (cattle) to the yard; to shut up, or keep, in a yard; as, to yard cows.

Yard"arm` (?), n. (Naut.) Either half of a square-rigged vessel's yard, from the center or mast to the end.

Ships are said to be yardarm and yardarm when so near as to touch, or interlock yards.

Yard"ful (?), n.; pl. Yardfuls (&?;). As much as a yard will contain; enough to fill a yard.

Yard"land` (?), n. (O. Eng. Law) A measure of land of uncertain quantity, varying from fifteen to forty acres; a virgate. [Obs.]

Yard"stick` (?), n. A stick three feet, or a yard, in length, used as a measure of cloth, etc.

Yard"wand` (?), n. A yardstick. Tennyson.

Yare (?), a. [OE. yare, aru, AS. gearu; akin to OS. garu, OHG. garo, G. gar, Icel. gerr perfect, görva quite, G. gerben to tan, to curry, OHG. garawen, garwen, to make ready. Cf. Carouse, Garb clothing, Gear, n.] Ready; dexterous; eager; lively; quick to move. [Obs.] "Be yare in thy preparation." Shak.

The lesser will come and go, leave or take, and is yare; whereas the greater is slow.

Sir W. Raleigh.

Yare, adv. Soon. [Obs.] Cursor Mundi.

Yare"ly, adv. In a yare manner. [Obs.] Shak.

Yark (?), v. t. & i. To yerk. [Prov. Eng.]

Yar"ke (?), n. (Zoöl.) Same as Saki.

Yarn (?), n. [OE. yarn, arn, AS. gearn; akin to D. garen, G., OHG., Icel., Sw., & Dan. garn; of uncertain origin. Cf. Cord.]

1. Spun wool; woolen thread; also, thread of other material, as of cotton, flax, hemp, or silk; material spun and prepared for use in weaving, knitting, manufacturing sewing thread, or the like.

2. (Rope Making) One of the threads of which the strands of a rope are composed.

3. A story told by a sailor for the amusement of his companions; a story or tale; as, to spin a yarn. [Colloq.]

Yarn"en (?), a. Made of yarn; consisting of yarn. [Obs.] "A pair of yarnen stocks." Turbervile.

Yar"nut` (?), n. (Bot.) See Yernut.

Yarr (?), v. i. [OE. arren.] To growl or snarl as a dog. [Obs.] Ainsworth.

Yar"rish (?), a. [Prov. E. yar sour, yare brackish.] Having a rough, dry taste. [Prov. Eng.]