Yard and Ell

Yard \Yard\, n. [OE. yerd, AS. gierd, gyrd, a rod, stick, a
   measure, a yard; akin to OFries. ierde, OS. gerda, D. garde,
   G. gerte, OHG. gartia, gerta, gart, Icel. gaddr a goad,
   sting, Goth. gazds, and probably to L. hasta a spear. Cf.
   {Gad}, n., {Gird}, n., {Gride}, v. i., {Hastate}.]
   1. A rod; a stick; a staff. [Obs.] --P. Plowman.
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            If men smote it with a yerde.         --Chaucer.
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   2. A branch; a twig. [Obs.]
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            The bitter frosts with the sleet and rain
            Destroyed hath the green in every yerd. --Chaucer.
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   3. A long piece of timber, as a rafter, etc. [Obs.]
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   4. A measure of length, equaling three feet, or thirty-six
      inches, being the standard of English and American
      measure.
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   5. The penis.
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   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}.
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   7. (Zool.) A place where moose or deer herd together in
      winter for pasture, protection, etc.
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   {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.
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