courtyard

[kawrt-yahrd, kohrt-]

noun

1. a court open to the sky, especially one enclosed on all four sides.

courtyard

/ ˈkɔːtˌjɑːd /

noun

1. an open area of ground surrounded by walls or buildings; court

Word History and Origins

Origin of courtyard¹

First recorded in 1545–55; court + yard ²

Example Sentences

As the afternoon wore on, the family used rope scavenged from a neighbor’s courtyard to secure a tarp between two taller chunks of concrete.

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The slope of the roof, for instance, reflects the mid-century butterfly roofs scattered throughout the predominantly Chinese neighborhood, while the arc of the terrace references historic courtyard houses and gardens in China.

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His family installed a piano, his instrument of choice, at a courtyard in Tel Aviv known as Hostage Square.

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Thousands of people poured into a courtyard in Tel Aviv known as Hostage Square to bang on drums, dance and sing with strangers.

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The camera looks down at the jail as the inmates spill into the courtyard.

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Related Words

• lawn 
• patio 
• yard