Stern davits can also be the fixed arms on the stern of a vessel, hence the term yawl boat for the boat that hangs off the stern. I don't know whether the mizzen mast on a yawl precedes or follows the creation of this term or whether it derives from one of the Anglic dialects.

The chantey "Lower the Yawl Boat Down" can be found in both Colcord and Hugil and can also be found on one of Gordon Bok's albums. Others have also written to this rubric. It is used when the davit tackles are being eased out, rather than let run precipitously as in the above chantey.