I. ˈyärd noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English geard enclosure, yard; akin to Old High German gart enclosure, Latin hortus garden
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : a small usually walled and often paved area open to the sky and adjacent to a building : court
b. : the grounds of a building or group of buildings
2. : the grounds immediately surrounding a house that are usually covered with grass
3.
a. : an enclosure for livestock (as poultry)
b.
(1) : an area with its buildings and facilities set aside for a particular business or activity
(2) : an assembly or storage area (as for dry-docked boats)
c. : a system of tracks for storage and maintenance of cars and making up trains
4. : a locality in a forest where deer herd in winter
II. adjective
Date: 15th century
1. : of, relating to, or employed in the yard surrounding a building
yard light
2. : of, relating to, or employed in a railroad yard
a yard engine
III. verb
Date: 1758
transitive verb
1. : to drive into or confine in a restricted area : herd , pen
2. : to deliver to or store in a yard
intransitive verb
: to congregate in or as if in a yard
IV. noun
Etymology: Middle English yarde, from Old English gierd twig, measure, yard; akin to Old High German gart stick, Latin hasta spear
Date: before 12th century
1. : any of various units of measure: as
a. : a unit of length equal in the United States to 0.9144 meter — see weight table
b. : a unit of volume equal to a cubic yard
2.
a. : a great length or quantity
remembered yard s of facts and figures
b. slang : one hundred dollars
3. : a long spar tapered toward the ends to support and spread the head of a square sail, lateen, or lugsail
4. : a slender horn-shaped glass about three feet tall ; also : the amount it contains
a yard of ale
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- the whole nine yards