mainyard

English edit

main +‎ yard

mainyard (plural mainyards)

(sailing) The yard of the mainmast, from which the mainsail is hung
- 1880, John Nichol, Byron‎^[1]:
  The sails were split, the mainyard shivered, the wind blowing fresh, the night setting in; and all our chance was to make for Corfu--or, as F. pathetically called it, 'a watery grave.'
- 1914, E.H. Aitken, Concerning Animals and Other Matters‎^[2]:
  A long line of red and white flags extends from the top of the mainyard to the helm and streamers flutter from the mastheads.

the yard of the mainmast, from which the mainsail is hung