yardarms

n. 1. (Naut.) Either half of a square-rigged vessel's yard{ 6 }, from the center or mast to the end. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Ships are said to be yardarm and yardarm when so near as to touch, or interlock yards. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) The portion of a yard{ 6 } outboard of the slings, often called the outer quarter. [ RH ]

A yard{ 6 } is considered to have four unequal quarters, two quarters extending from the mast to the slings on each side, and two smaller outer quarters outboard of the slings. [ RH ]