yard-rope

plural yard-ropes · alternative yard rope · alternative yardrope

1. nauticalA rope that goes through a block or sheave at the top of a mast that is used for hoisting or lowering a yard; gantline.

   Have hands by the braces and lifts , man the yard-rope, and when ready, sway up on the yard-rope, and lower lift, steadying the yard by the braces.

   1866, Stephen Bleecker Luce, Seamanship

   2 more examples

   Trice down the jack-block, by letting go the halyards and hauling down on the yard-rope. Cast off the yard-rope from the slings of the yard, and hook the tye to its thimble; haul taut the halyards, and square the yard by the lists and braces.

   1841, Benjamin J. Totten, Naval Text-book: Letters to the Midshipmen of the United States Navy, page 57

   But this plan is manifestly too expensive and troublesome to meet with much encouragement in the merchant service —a yard-rope being also requisite, in case of sending the yard up or down.

   2012, John M'Leod Murphy, W. N. Jeffers, Spars and Rigging: From Nautical Routine, page 1849