subs. (venery).—The penis: see PRICK.
1598. FLORIO, A 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 Gazette, 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, The 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.
