From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishhalyardhal‧yard /ˈhæljəd $ -ərd/ noun [countable] technicalTTW a rope used to raise or lower a flag or sail
Examples from the Corpus
halyard• Then he was on to the cabin top and releasing the main halyard.• A broken spinnaker halyard put paid to Law's spirited last-minute effort, while Peters failed to consolidate his position.• A hundred masts were playing the halyard concerto at full volume.Origin halyard (1600-1700) hallier “halyard” ((14-17 centuries)), from hale “to pull”, from Old French haler; → HAUL1 