1. a rope used to secure or raise and lower something such as the shrouds and sails of a sailing ship or a flag on a flagpole.
▪ a cord passed round the neck, shoulder, or wrist for holding a knife, whistle, or similar object.
Word Originlate Middle Englishlanyer, in the general sense ‘a short length of rope for securing something’, from Old French laniere. The change in the ending in the 17th century was due to association with yard1.