Yard (?), n. [OE. yerd, AS. gierd, gyrd, a rod, tick, a measure, a yard; akin to OFries. ierde, OS. gerda, D. garde, G. gerte, OHG. gartia, gerta, gart, Icel. gaddr a goad, sting, Goth. gazds, and probably to L. hasta a spear. Cf. Gad, n., Gird, n., Gride, v. i., Hastate.]
1.
A rod; a stick; a staff.
[Obs.]
P. Plowman.
If men smote it with a yerde.
Chaucer.
2.
A branch; a twig.
[Obs.]
The bitter frosts with the sleet and rain
Destroyed hath the green in every yerd.
Chaucer.
3.
A long piece of timber, as a rafter, etc.
[Obs.]
4.
A measure of length, equaling three feet, or thirty-six inches, being the standard of English and American measure.
5.
The penis.
6. Naut.
A long piece of timber, nearly cylindrical, tapering toward the ends, and designed to support and extend a square sail. A yard is usually hung by the center to the mast. See Illust. of Ship.
Golden Yard, ∨ Yard and Ell Astron., a popular name the three stars in the belt of Orion. -- Under yard [i. e., under the rod], under contract. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
© Webster 1913.
Yard, n. [OE. yard, yerd, AS. geard; akin to OFries. garda garden, OS. gardo garden, gard yard, D. gaard garden, G. garten, OHG. garto garden, gari inclosure, Icel. garr yard, house, Sw. g�x86;rd, Dan. gard, Goth. gards a house, garda sheepfold, L. hortus garden, Gr. an inclosure. Cf. Court, Garden, Garth, Horticulture, Orchard.]
1.
An inclosure; usually, a small inclosed place in front of, or around, a house or barn; as, a courtyard; a cowyard; a barnyard.
A yard . . . inclosed all about with sticks
In which she had a cock, hight chanticleer.
Chaucer.
2.
An inclosure within which any work or business is carried on; as, a dockyard; a shipyard.
Liberty of the yard, a liberty, granted to persons imprisoned for debt, of walking in the yard, or within any other limits prescribed by law, on their giving bond not to go beyond those limits. -- Prison yard, an inclosure about a prison, or attached to it. -- Yard grass Bot., a low-growing grass (Eleusine Indica) having digitate spikes. It is common in dooryards, and like places, especially in the Southern United States. Called also crab grass. -- Yard of land. See Yardland.
© Webster 1913.
Yard, v. t.
To confine (cattle) to the yard; to shut up, or keep, in a yard; as, to yard cows.
© Webster 1913.
Yard (?), n. (Zoöl.)
A place where moose or deer herd together in winter for pasture, protection, etc.
© Webster 1913