halyard

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

halyard
    n 1: a rope for raising or lowering a sail or flag [syn:
         {halyard}, {halliard}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Halyard \Hal"yard\ (h[a^]l"y[~e]rd), n. [Hale, v. t. + yard.]
   (Naut.)
   A rope or tackle for hoisting or lowering yards, sails,
   flags, etc. [Written also {halliard}, {haulyard}.]
   [1913 Webster]