Definition

The lowest horizontal beam on the front mast of a sailing ship, used to support the sails.

Example

The sailors adjusted the sails attached to the foreyard to catch the wind more effectively.

Conversation

I was reading about sailing, and I came across the term foreyard.

Oh, that’s interesting! What does it mean?

It's the lowest yard on a foremast, which helps with the sails.

Got it! Sailing terminology can be really fascinating.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Foreyard → The word is formed from "fore-" (meaning front or before) and "yard" (from Old English "geard", meaning an enclosed area or yard). The term "foreyard" refers to the front part of a yard or an area, typically in a nautical context, indicating the area in front of a ship's mast.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'front' ('fore-') part of an 'enclosed area' ('yard') — that's what a foreyard represents.

Visually Confused Words