Use of superscript 'x'(?) as an abbreviation for 'yards'

Question

I'm currently working with some handwritten notes that look like they could be quite old, or at least written by somebody who grew up a little bit earlier than I did. I don't really know when they were written, but judging by the style of handwriting, I feel like they could be a few decades old. They were almost certainly written by a British person.

Anyway, a few times in these notes, I find what I'm certain is a superscript letter 'x' used as an abbreviation for 'yards'. It is most certainly an abbreviation for yards, because I happen to have the printed notice that my writer was making notes on and the distance in the original is in yards.

I'm just interested why a superscript 'x' should be used as an abbreviation for 'yards', how common it was, and when (if ever) it fell out of regular use. Just because I'm seeing it for the first time, doesn't mean it's fallen completely out of use!

Other examples:

Comparisons with this writer's 'y':

Teacher Lee · Answer

Yards would NOT be indicated by a superscript.  We would just say 10 yards or 10 yds.

Could the "x" be a footnote superscript referring to some reference calculation perhaps that is listed in the References?  Ref a,..., Ref x, Ref y

Or perhaps shorthand for "times" (multiplication)  70x = 70 times?

James D · Answer

As the OP has already noted in the comments, there are sources suggesting (at least military) use of superscript-x for yards.
Here is a source instructing how to transcribe Navy log books for historical research. It says superscript-x means "yards." (See the "symbols" section near the top of the page; section heading in red text.)
http://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-ForumMat.htm

2600x - an example of recording distance.
x - Yards. A unit of length equaling 3 feet or 0.9144 meters. Transcribe this as 'x'.

Use of superscript 'x'(?) as an abbreviation for 'yards'

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