Courtyard
/ˈkɔːr.tjɑːrd/noun
An open area surrounded by walls or buildings.
Did you know?The word comes from the same Latin root behind “court” and “curtain,” all tied to the idea of a bounded enclosure or protected space.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ker-
“to bend, turn, or enclose”
Latin
Latin
cohors
“an enclosed yard, court, or retinue”
Old French
Old French
court
“an enclosed space, yard, or court”
Middle English
English
courte-yard
“an enclosed yard or court attached to a house”
Modern English
English
courtyard
“an open area enclosed by walls or buildings”