YARD

n. 1 a unit of linear measure equal to 3 feet (0.9144 metre). 2 this length of material (a yard and a half of cloth). 3 a square or cubic yard esp. (in building) of sand etc. 4 a cylindrical spar tapering to each end slung across a mast for a sail to hang from. 5 (in pl.; foll. by of) colloq. a great length (yards of spare wallpaper). øby the yard at great length. yard-arm the outer extremity of a ship's yard. yard of ale Brit. 1 a deep slender beer glass, about a yard long and holding two to three pints. 2 the contents of this. [OE gerd f. WG]