A **halyard** is the rope or line used to hoist and lower a flag along a staff or mast. The halyard runs through a block at the top of the pole and is secured at the foot, often to a cleat. In formal flag etiquette the halyard is kept taut and the flag is raised briskly and lowered ceremoniously. Damage to the halyard is a common reason a flag flies at an irregular height.
**Example**: At a naval ceremony, the ensign is bent on to the halyard and ‘two-blocked’ so that its hoist edge touches the truck of the mast.
**See also**: [hoisting](/glossary/hoisting/), [lowering](/glossary/lowering/), [finial](/glossary/finial/), [full-staff](/glossary/full-staff/)