Definition of "main-yard" [main-yard]

• Nautical, the lower yard on the mainmast. (noun)
• Plural All the yards which belong to the mainmast, namely, the lower, lower topsail, upper topsail, topgallant, royal, and skysail yards. (noun)

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• ""As soon as the sea rises," she said, "we'll have that loose main-yard and all the rest of the top-hamper tumbling down on deck.""
• "Mr. Mellaire, will you launch the long boat and get some kind of a crew into it while I back the main-yard?"
• "Wrecks, engagements, ships on fire, ships passing lighthouses on iron-bound coasts, ships blowing up, ships going down, ships running ashore, men lying out upon the main-yard in a gale of wind, sailors and ships in every variety of peril, constitute the illustrations of fact."