1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Priapismo. The standing of a man's yard, which is when the yard is stretched out in length and breadth. . . . If it come with a beating and panting of the yard the phisicians call it then Satiriasi.
The Yard, subs. phr. (London).—1. Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the London police, now located at New Scotland Yard.
1901. Pall Mall Gaz., 11 May, 2. 3. He gave plausibility to his proceedings by exhibiting a subscription list for a testimonial to a member of 'THE YARD,' who, said he, was about to retire.
2. (Durham School).—In pl. = the list of members originally of the First Game, but now of the Second Game—at football or cricket. [Formerly in the cricket season only a patch of ground thirty yards square was mowed. Those who had the privilege of playing on this were said to be on the YARDS.]
Under one's yard, phr. (old).—In one's power, subject to authority.
1383. Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, 7893, 'Clerke's Tale.' Hoste, quod he, I am UNDER YOUR YERDE.
To GET YARDS, verb. phr. (Harrow).—To get a catch at football and be allowed a free kick, not running more than can be covered in three running strides. Hence TO GIVE YARDS = to give such a catch; TO STEP YARDS = to cover the distance in 'kicking off YARDS' in three strides; to KNOCK DOWN YARDS = to prevent another from 'taking YARDS.' [Orig. 'three yards.']
See Knight.
Yarder, subs. (Harrow).—Cricket played in the school yard: in the summer term.
Yard-of-clay, subs. phr. (common).—A long clay pipe; a CHURCHWARDEN (q.v.).
1859. Fairholt, Tobacco (1876), 173. Such long pipes were reverently termed aldermen in the last age, and irreverently YARDS OF CLAY in the present one.
1866. London Miscellany, 19 May, 235. 2. Surely these men, who win and lose fortunes with the stolidity of a mynheer smoking his CLAY YARD, must be of entirely different stuff from the rest of us.
Yard-of-pumpwater, subs. phr. (common).—A tall thin man (or woman): cf. Rasher-of-wind.
Yark, verb (Durham School).—To cane.
Yarmouth-capon (or -bee), subs. phr. (common).—A herring: see Glasgow magistrate (B. E. and Grose).
1662. Fuller, Worthies, 'Norfolk,' 11. 126. A Yarmouth Capon. That is, a Red-herring. I believe few Capons (save what have more fins than feathers) are bred in Yarmouth. But, to countenance this expression, I understand that the Italian Friers (when disposed to eat the flesh on Fridays) call Capon piscem e corte, a fish out of the coop.
Yarmouth-coach, subs. phr. (old).—'A sorry, low Cart to ride on, drawn by one Horse' (B. E.).
Yarmouth-mittens, subs. phr. (nautical).—Bruised hands.
Yarn, subs. (colloquial).—A story, a tale: spec. an incredible, long, or marvellous narration spun out by a sailor. Hence as verb (or TO SPIN YARNS) = to romance,
