1. n.1 a unit of linear measure equal to 3 feet (0.9144 metre).
2 this length of material (a yard and a half of cloth).
3 a square or cubic yard esp. (in building) of sand etc.
4 a cylindrical spar tapering to each end slung across a mast for a sail to hang from.
5 (in pl.; foll. by of) colloq. a great length (yards of spare wallpaper).
Phrases and idioms:
by the yard at great length. yard-arm the outer extremity of a ship's yard. yard of ale Brit.
1. a deep slender beer glass, about a yard long and holding two to three pints.
2 the contents of this.
Etymology: OE gerd f. WG 2. n. & v.
--n.
1. a piece of enclosed ground esp. attached to a building or used for a particular purpose.
2 US the garden of a house.
--v.tr. put (cattle) into a stockyard.
Phrases and idioms:
the Yard Brit. colloq. SCOTLAND YARD. yard-man
1. a person working in a railway-yard or timber-yard.
2 US a gardener or a person who does various outdoor jobs. yard-master the manager of a railway-yard.
Etymology: OE geard enclosure, region, f. Gmc: cf. GARDEN