Curtilage
/ˈkɜːr.tɪ.lɪdʒ/noun
The land immediately surrounding a house or other dwelling, especially the enclosed area within its boundary.
Did you know?Curtilage comes from the same Latin root as “court” and originally meant an enclosed yard, a reminder that homes once had a legally protected boundary like a small fortress.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
Latin
cortile
“An enclosed yard or courtyard, especially around a house or farm”
Old French
Old French
cortilage
“A courtyard or enclosed space attached to a house”
Middle English
English
curtilage
“An enclosed area or yard attached to a dwelling”
Modern English
English
curtilage
“The land immediately surrounding a house, treated as part of the home for legal purposes”