Yard (land)

Key facts and history

One possible account of the origin is Middle English yerd, from Old English geard "fence, enclosure, dwelling, home."^[3] Germanic cognates include Old Norse garðr "enclosure, garden, yard" and Gothic gards "house."^[4] The word may also relate to "girdle" and "court" from the same root.^[3] In Anglo-Saxon times, "yard" was a land measure of roughly 5 meters, later called a rod or pole.^[4]

The yard measure of three feet is attested from late Old English.^[4] In farming areas, a yard is an enclosed land for farm animals, such as a cattleyard or stockyard.^[5] In Australia, portable or mobile yards are sets of steel panels used to build temporary stockyards.^[5] In North America, "yard" typically describes a grass lawn, while "garden" refers to areas with vegetables or flowers.^[6]

The term "yard sale," for selling second-hand items on a front lawn, is attested by 1965.^[4] In British English, a "yard" refers to a hard, often enclosed surface, whereas a "garden" denotes an area with planted vegetation.^[7]

What the cited sources add

The same source states that Middle English yerd also meant "yard-land," a varying measure often about 30 acres.^[4] The modern English unit of 45 inches for a yard was set in Tudor times.^[4] A residential yard maintenance guide by Shayla Croyle reports that 74% of US adults believe they know how to care for their lawn each season.^[8] The same guide states that 64% falsely believe all grass needs to be fertilized in spring.^[8]

Croyle's guide explains that irrigation supplies a yard with water at appropriate intervals.^[8] The guide also notes that pruning is an essential part of residential yard maintenance.^[8]