jackyard Naut.
(ˈdʒækjɑːd)
[See Jack n.1 34 b.]
A spar used in fore and aft rigged craft, chiefly yachts, to spread the foot of a large gaff-topsail out beyond the peak. Also attrib.
| 1873 ‘Vanderdecken’ Yachts & Yachting 186, I have never seen a jack yard used with a jib-headed gaff-topsail. 1882 Standard 11 Aug. 6/6 Lorna and Chittywee last, the latter with a large jackyardtopsail set. 1896 Daily News 18 Aug. 3 All carried jackyards above their mainsails. 1931 Rudder Mar. 82/2 The topsail might be termed half a club topsail, having a jack yard or club at the luff only. |
Hence jackˈyarder, a jackyard topsail.
| 1892 Daily News 8 Aug. 3/7 The yachts..reached out the river under full lower canvas, jackyarders, and jib topsails. 1894 Times 24 July 10/2 It was astounding that Britannia with jackyarder aloft came scathless out of the squall. |