From the main yardarm dangled three lifeless, hooded figures.
Nevertheless, the second shot was true and landed across the port fore-topsail yardarm.
Two pole masts, one abaft the pilothouse and the other abaft the deckhouse, are rigged with a signal yardarm and running lights.
When a ship or command does a particularly good job, the commanding officer hoists two signal flags up the yardarm.
The remainder were catechized, baptized and then hanged from the ship's yardarm.
British Dictionary definitions for yardarm
yardarm
/ˈjɑːdˌɑːm/
noun
1.
(nautical) the two tapering outer ends of a ship's yard
Word Origin and History for yardarm
n.
also yard-arm, 1550s, from yard (n.2) + arm (n.1). In 19c. British naval custom, it was permissible to begin drinking when the sun was over the yard-arm.