Yard n.
 1. A rod; a stick; a staff.  [Obs.]
    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.
 7. Zool. A place where moose or deer herd together in winter for pasture, protection, etc.
 Golden Yard, or Yard and Ell Astron., a popular name of the three stars in the belt of Orion.
 Under yard [i. e., under the rod], under contract. [Obs.] --Chaucer.