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YACHT . A vessel of state or pleasure: the former is usually employed to convey great personages. One of the designs of a yacht being accommodation, they are usually fitted up with great comfort; their propulsion is by sails or steam. Small yachts, rigged as sloops, were formerly used by the commissioners of the navy; they were originally royal yachts, and one at Chatham was renowned as the yacht of Queen Elizabeth, the same plate being in use in her up to a very late date. Private pleasure-boats, when sufficiently large for a sea voyage, are also termed yachts. (_See_ ROYAL YACHT.)
YACHT CLUB, ROYAL . An institution embodied by a number of noblemen and gentlemen about the year 1820, to which certain privileges are attached. It was originally established at Cowes, but several ports, as well as the Thames, have their special clubs, and similar privileges.
YAM . The tubers of the _Dioscorea sativa_, and others; a valuable vegetable on long voyages. _D. aculeata_ frequently produces tubers 3 feet long, and weighing 30 lbs. Also, the West India word for food; 'Toko for yam,' the negro's punishment--blows but no food.
YANKEE . An appellation often erroneously given to North Americans in general, whereas it is strictly applicable to those of the New England states only; it is not used complimentarily in the back settlements.
YARD . A measure of length, consisting of 3 feet.
YARD [Anglo-Saxon _gyrde_] . A long cylindrical timber suspended upon the mast of a vessel to spread a sail. They are termed square, lateen, or lug: the first are suspended across the masts at right angles, and the two latter obliquely. The square yards taper from the middle, which is called the slings, towards the extremities, which are termed the yard-arms; and the distance between is divided by the artificers into quarters, called the first, second, third quarters, and yard-arms. The middle quarters are formed into eight sides, and each of the end parts is figured like the frustum of a cone: on the alternate sides of the octagon, in large spars, oak battens are brought on and hooped, so as to strengthen, and yet not greatly increase, the weight.--_To brace the yards._ To traverse them about the masts, so as to form greater or lesser angles with the ship's length. (_See_ BRACE.)--_To square the yards._ (_See_ SQUARE.)
YARD-ARM . That part of a yard outside the quarter, which is on either side of the mast beyond the battens, when it lies athwart the ship. It generally means the extremity of the yard, and it is fitted with sheave-holes for reeving sheets through.
YARD-ARM AND YARD-ARM . The situation of two ships lying alongside one another, so near that their yard-arms nearly touch each other, or even cross. The term implies close action and no mistake.
YARD-ARM CLEATS . Wooden wedges fixed on the yards at those points where they support the lifts and braces, and where the head-earings are secured. The reef-cleats on the topsail-yards are beyond the lifts and braces.
YARD-ARM PIECE . An octagonal piece of timber supplied to replace a yard-arm if shot away. It is one-third the length of the main-yard.
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