lanyard

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: lan=yard

CIDE DICTIONARY

lanyard, n. [F. lanière thong, strap, OF. lasniere, fr. lasne strap, thong, L. lacinia lappet. flap, edge of a garment. Cf. Lanier.].

•  A short piece of rope or line for fastening something in ships; as, the lanyards of the gun ports, of the buoy, and the like; esp., pieces passing through the dead-eyes, and used to extend shrouds, stays, etc.  [1913 Webster]
•  A strong cord, about twelve feet long, with an iron hook at one end a handle at the other, used in firing cannon with a friction tube.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

lanyard, n.
1 a cord hanging round the neck or looped round the shoulder, esp. of a Scout or sailor etc., to which a knife, a whistle, etc., may be attached.
2 Naut. a short rope or line used for securing, tightening, etc.
3 a cord attached to a breech mechanism for firing a gun.

Etymology

ME f. OF laniere, lasniere: assim. to YARD(1)