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.