Chapter 1912

1. A rod; a stick; a staff. [Obs.]

P. Plowman.

If men smote it with a yerde . Chaucer.

2. A branch; a twig. [Obs.]

The bitter frosts with the sleet and rain Destroyed hath the green in every yerd . Chaucer.

3. A long piece of timber, as a rafter, etc. [Obs.]

4. A measure of length, equaling three feet, or thirty-six inches, being the standard of English and American measure.

5. The penis.

6. (Naut.) A long piece of timber, nearly cylindrical, tapering toward the ends, and designed to support and extend a square sail. A yard is usually hung by the center to the mast. See Illust . of Ship .

Golden Yard , ∨ Yard and Ell (Astron.) , a popular name the three stars in the belt of Orion. -- Under yard [ i. e. , under the rod], under contract. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Yard <Xpage=1673>

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. gar<?/r yard, house, Sw. g\'86rd , Dan. g<?/ard , Goth. gards a house, garda sheepfold, L. hortus garden, Gr. <?/ 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 court yard ; a cow yard ; a barn yard .

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 dock yard ; a ship yard .

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 <Xpage=1673>

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

Yardarm <Xpage=1673>

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

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

Yardful <Xpage=1673>

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

Yardland <Xpage=1673>

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

Yardstick <Xpage=1673>

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

Yardwand <Xpage=1673>

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

Tennyson.

Yare <Xpage=1673>

Yare (?) , a. [OE. yare , \'f4aru , AS. gearu ; akin to OS. garu , OHG. garo , G. gar , Icel. gerr perfect, g\'94rva 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 [ship] will come and go, leave or take, and is yare ; whereas the greater is slow. Sir W. Raleigh.

Yare <Xpage=1673>

Yare , adv. Soon. [Obs.]

Cursor Mundi.

Yarely <Xpage=1673>

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

Shak.

Yark <Xpage=1673>

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

Yarke <Xpage=1673>

Yar"ke (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Same as Saki .

Yarn <Xpage=1673>

Yarn (?) , n. [OE. yarn , \'f4arn , 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.]

Yarnen <Xpage=1673>

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

Turbervile.

Yarnut <Xpage=1673>

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

Yarr <Xpage=1673>

Yarr (?) , v. i. [OE. \'f4arren .] To growl or snarl as a dog. [Obs.]

Ainsworth.

Yarrish <Xpage=1673>

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

Yarrow <Xpage=1673>

Yar"row (?) , n. [OE. yarowe , yarwe , \'f4arowe , AS. gearwe ; akin to D. gerw , OHG. garwa , garawa , G. garbe , schafgarbe , and perhaps to E. yare .] (Bot.) An American and European composite plant ( Achillea Millefolium ) with very finely dissected leaves and small white corymbed flowers. It has a strong, and somewhat aromatic, odor and taste, and is sometimes used in making beer, or is dried for smoking. Called also milfoil , and nosebleed .

Yarwhip <Xpage=1673>

Yar"whip` (?) , n. [So called from its sharp cry uttered when taking wing.] (Zo\'94l.) The European bar-tailed godwit; -- called also yardkeep , and yarwhelp . See Godwit . [Prov. Eng.]

Yataghan <Xpage=1673>

Yat"a*ghan (?) , n. [Turk. y\'bet\'begh\'ben .] A long knife, or short saber, common among Mohammedan nations, usually having a double curve, sometimes nearly straight. [Written also ataghan , attaghan .]

Chaucer.

Yate <Xpage=1673>

Yate (?) , n. A gate. See 1st Gate . [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Spenser.

Yaud <Xpage=1673>

Yaud (?) , n. See Yawd . [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Yaul <Xpage=1673>

Yaul (?) , n. (Naut.) See Yawl .

Yaulp <Xpage=1673>

Yaulp (?) , v. i. To yaup.

Yaup <Xpage=1673>

Yaup (?) , v. i. [See Yap , and Yelp .] To cry out like a child; to yelp. [Scot. & Colloq. U. S.] [Written also yawp .]

Yaup <Xpage=1673>

Yaup , n. [Written also yawp .]

1. A cry of distress, rage, or the like, as the cry of a sickly bird, or of a child in pain. [Scot. & Colloq. U. S.]

2. (Zo\'94l.) The blue titmouse. [Prov. Eng.]

Yauper <Xpage=1673>

Yaup"er (?) , n. One who, or that which, yaups.

Yaupon <Xpage=1673>

Yau"pon (?) , n. (Bot.) A shrub ( Ilex Cassine ) of the Holly family, native from Virginia to Florida. The smooth elliptical leaves are used as a substitute for tea, and were formerly used in preparing the black drink of the Indians of North Carolina. Called also South-Sea tea . [Written also yapon , youpon , and yupon .]

Yaw <Xpage=1673>

Yaw (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Yawed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Yawing .] [Cf. Yew , v. i. ] To rise in blisters, breaking in white froth, as cane juice in the clarifiers in sugar works.

Yaw <Xpage=1673>

Yaw , v. i. & t. [Cf. Prov. G. gagen to rock, gageln to totter, shake, Norw. gaga to bend backward, Icel. gagr bent back, gaga to throw the neck back.] (Naut.) To steer wild, or out of the line of her course; to deviate from her course, as when struck by a heavy sea; -- said of a ship.

Just as he would lay the ship's course, all yawing being out of the question. Lowell.

Yaw <Xpage=1673>

Yaw , n. (Naut.) A movement of a vessel by which she temporarily alters her course; a deviation from a straight course in steering.

Yawd <Xpage=1673>

Yawd (?) , n. [Cf. Icel. jalda a mare, E. jade a nag.] A jade; an old horse or mare. [Written also yaud .] [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Grose.

Yawl <Xpage=1673>

Yawl (?) , n. [D. jol ; akin to LG. & Dan. jolle , Sw. julle . Cf. Jolly-boat .] (Naut.) A small ship's boat, usually rowed by four or six oars. [Written also yaul .]

Yawl <Xpage=1673>

Yawl , v. i. [OE. \'f4aulen , \'f4oulen , gaulen , goulen , Icel. gaula to low, bellow. Cf. Gowl .] To cry out like a dog or cat; to howl; to yell.

Tennyson.

There howling Scyllas yawling round about. Fairfax.

Yawl-rigged <Xpage=1673>

Yawl"-rigged" (?) , a. (Naut.) Having two masts with fore-and-aft sails, but differing from a schooner in that the after mast is very small, and stepped as far aft as possible. See Illustration in Appendix.

Yawn <Xpage=1673>

Yawn (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Yawned (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Yawning .] [OE. yanien , \'f4anien , ganien , gonien , AS. g\'benian ; akin to ginian to yawn, g\'c6nan to yawn, open wide, G. g\'84hnen to yawn, OHG. gin&emac;n , gein&omac;n , Icel. g\'c6na to yawn, gin the mouth, OSlav. zijati to yawn, L. hiare to gape, yawn; and perhaps to E. begin , cf. Gr. <?/ a hole. <?/<?/<?/<?/ b . Cf. Begin , Gin to begin, Hiatus .]

1. To open the mouth involuntarily through drowsiness, dullness, or fatigue; to gape; to oscitate. "The lazy, yawning drone."

Shak.

And while above he spends his breath, The yawning audience nod beneath. Trumbull.

2. To open wide; to gape, as if to allow the entrance or exit of anything.

't is now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn . Shak.

3. To open the mouth, or to gape, through surprise or bewilderment.

Shak.

4. To be eager; to desire to swallow anything; to express desire by yawning; as, to yawn for fat livings . "One long, yawning gaze."

Landor.

Yawn <Xpage=1673>

Yawn , n. 1. An involuntary act, excited by drowsiness, etc., consisting of a deep and long inspiration following several successive attempts at inspiration, the mouth, fauces, etc., being wide open.

One person yawning in company will produce a spontaneous yawn in all present. N. Chipman.

2. The act of opening wide, or of gaping.

Addison.

3. A chasm, mouth, or passageway. [R.]

Now gape the graves, and trough their yawns let loose Imprisoned spirits. Marston.

Yawningly <Xpage=1673>

Yawn"ing*ly , adv. In a yawning manner.

Yawp <Xpage=1673>

Yawp (?) , v. & n. See Yaup .

Yaws <Xpage=1673>

Yaws (?) , n. [African yaw a raspberry.] (Med.) A disease, occurring in the Antilles and in Africa, characterized by yellowish or reddish tumors, of a contagious character, which, in shape and appearance, often resemble currants, strawberries, or raspberries. There are several varieties of this disease, variously known as framb\'d2sia , pian , verrugas , and crab-yaws .

Yaw-weed <Xpage=1673>

Yaw"-weed` (?) , n. (Bot.) A low, shrubby, rubiaceous plant ( Morinda Royoc ) growing along the seacoast of the West Indies. It has small, white, odorous flowers.

Ybe <Xpage=1673>

Y*be" (?) , obs. p. p. of Be . Been.

Chaucer.

Ycleped <Xpage=1673>

Y*cleped" (?) , p. p. [AS. geclipod , p. p. of clipian , cleopian , cliopian , to call. See Clepe , and also the Note under Y- .] Called; named; -- obsolete, except in archaic or humorous writings. [Spelt also yclept .]

It is full fair to ben yclept madame. Chaucer.

But come, thou goddess fair and free. In heaven ycleped Euphrosyne. Milton.

Those charming little missives ycleped valentines. Lamb.

Ydo <Xpage=1673>

Y*do" (?) , obs. p. p. of Do . Done.

Chaucer.

Ydrad <Xpage=1673>

Y*drad" (?) , obs. p. p. of Dread . Dreaded.

Yet nothing did he dread, but ever was ydrad . Spenser.

Y e , Ye <Xpage=1673>

Y e , Ye (?) , an old method of printing the article the (AS. &thorn;e ), the "y" being used in place of the Anglo-Saxon thorn (&thorn;). It is sometimes incorrectly pronounced y\'c7 . See The , and Thorn , n. , 4.

Y\'89 <Xpage=1673>

Y"\'89 (&emac;" e ) , n. ; pl. Y\'89n (<?/) . An eye. [Obs.]

From his y\'89n ran the water down. Chaucer.

Ye <Xpage=1673>

Ye (y&emac;) , pron. [OE. ye , \'f4e , nom. pl., AS. ge , g&imac; ; cf. OS. ge , g\'c6 , OFries. g\'c6 , \'c6 , D. gij , Dan. & Sw. i , Icel. &emac;r , OHG. ir , G. ihr , Goth. jus , Lith. jus , Gr. <?/, Skr. yuyam . <?/<?/<?/<?/.] The plural of the pronoun of the second person in the nominative case.

Ye ben to me right welcome heartily. Chaucer.

But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified. 1 Cor. vi. 11.

This would cost you your life in case ye were a man. Udall.

&hand; In Old English ye was used only as a nominative, and you only as a dative or objective. In the 16th century, however, ye and you became confused and were often used interchangeably, both as nominatives and objectives, and you has now superseded ye except in solemn or poetic use. See You , and also the first Note under Thou .

Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate ye . Shak.

I come, kind gentlemen, strange news to tell ye . Dryden.

Ye <Xpage=1673>

Ye (?) , adv. [See Yea .] Yea; yes. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Yea <Xpage=1673>

Yea (y&amac; &or; y&emac;; 277) , adv. [OE. ye , ya , \'f4e , \'f4a , AS. ge\'a0 ; akin to OFries. g<?/ , i<?/ , OS., D., OHG., G., Dan. & Sw. ja , Icel, j\'be , Goth. ja , jai , and probably to Gr. <?/ truly, verily. <?/<?/<?/<?/. Cf. Yes .]

1. Yes; ay; a word expressing assent, or an affirmative, or an affirmative answer to a question, now superseded by yes . See Yes .

Let your communication be yea , yea ; nay, nay. Matt. v. 37.

2. More than this; not only so, but; -- used to mark the addition of a more specific or more emphatic clause. Cf. Nay , adv. , 2.

I therein do rejoice, yea , and will rejoice. Phil. i. 18.

&hand; Yea sometimes introduces a clause, with the sense of indeed , verily , truly . " Yea , hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"

Gen. iii. 1.

Yea <Xpage=1673>

Yea , n. An affirmative vote; one who votes in the affirmative; as, a vote by yeas and nays .

&hand; In the Scriptures, yea is used as a sign of certainty or stability. "All the promises of God in him are yea , and in him Amen."

2 Cor. i. 20.

Yead <Xpage=1673>

Yead (?) , v. i. Properly, a variant of the defective imperfect yode , but sometimes mistaken for a present. See the Note under Yede . [Obs.]

Years yead away and faces fair deflower. Drant.

Yean <Xpage=1673>

Yean (?) , v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Yeaned (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Yeaning .] [AS. e\'a0nian , or gee\'a0nian ; perhaps akin to E. ewe , or perhaps to L. agnus , Gr. <?/. Cf. Ean .] To bring forth young, as a goat or a sheep; to ean.

Shak.

Yeanling <Xpage=1673>

Yean"ling (?) , n. [ Yean + -ling . Cf. Eanling .] A lamb or a kid; an eanling.

Shak.

Year <Xpage=1673>

Year (?) , n. [OE. yer , yeer , \'f4er , AS. ge\'a0r ; akin to OFries. i<?/r , g<?/r , D. jaar , OHG. j\'ber , G. jahr , Icel. \'ber , Dan. aar , Sw. \'86r , Goth. j<?/r , Gr. <?/ a season of the year, springtime, a part of the day, an hour, <?/ a year, Zend y\'bere year. &root;4, 279. Cf. Hour , Yore .]

1. The time of the apparent revolution of the sun trough the ecliptic; the period occupied by the earth in making its revolution around the sun, called the astronomical year ; also, a period more or less nearly agreeing with this, adopted by various nations as a measure of time, and called the civil year ; as, the common lunar year of 354 days, still in use among the Mohammedans; the year of 360 days, etc. In common usage, the year consists of 365 days, and every fourth year (called bissextile , or leap year ) of 366 days, a day being added to February on that year, on account of the excess above 365 days (see Bissextile ) .

Of twenty year of age he was, I guess. Chaucer.

&hand; The civil , or legal , year , in England, formerly commenced on the 25th of March. This practice continued throughout the British dominions till the year 1752.

2. The time in which any planet completes a revolution about the sun; as, the year of Jupiter or of Saturn .

3. pl. Age, or old age; as, a man in years .

Shak.