1. Ready, prepared, or quick: This is the most common meaning. It's often used to describe a person who is agile, alert, or capable of swift action.
Examples:
* "Be yare, my lads, and bring the sails!" (meaning "Be ready, my lads, and bring the sails quickly!")
* "The young sailor was yare and nimble, climbing the rigging with ease."
2. Agile or swift: This meaning is closely related to the first and emphasizes the quickness and agility of movement.
3. (Nautical) A type of ship or vessel: This meaning is less common and refers to a type of vessel, usually a small, swift ship.
Examples:
* "The yare sloop sailed quickly through the waters."
4. (Archaic) Near, close, or neighboring: This meaning is even less common and often found in older texts.
Examples:
* "The castle stood yare to the sea."
Origin:
The word "yare" comes from Old English *gear, meaning "ready, prepared." It's related to the word "gear" (as in "gear up") and the German *gerüst, meaning "scaffolding."
Usage:
"Yare" is not commonly used in modern English. It's considered an archaic word and is mostly found in historical texts or literature that uses old-fashioned language.
If you come across "yare" in a text, consider the context to determine its meaning. It's likely to mean "ready," "prepared," "quick," or "agile."