forecourt

[ fawr-kawrt, fohr-kohrt ]

noun

1. Tennis. the part of either half of a tennis court that lies between the net and the line that marks the inbounds limit of a service. Compare backcourt ( def 1 ).
2. a courtyard before the entrance to a building or group of buildings.

forecourt

/ ˈfɔːˌkɔːt /

noun

1. a courtyard in front of a building, as one in a filling station
2. Also calledfront court the front section of the court in tennis, badminton, etc, esp the area between the service line and the net

Word History and Origins

Origin of forecourt¹

First recorded in 1525–35; fore- + court

Example Sentences

One crew member waited four hours on a forecourt for a tanker to arrive so that he could guarantee getting filled up.

From Digiday

The guard is first seen marching up and down the gravel forecourt, before breaking into pirouettes.

From The Daily Beast

Colonel Sullivan turned with Uncle Ulick to the nearest window and looked out on the untidy forecourt.

From Project Gutenberg

Uncle Ulick shook his fist at a particularly importunate beggar who had ventured across the forecourt.

From Project Gutenberg

They drove to a modest suburb of the great ingenious town, and stopped at the forecourt of a small house.

From Project Gutenberg

There was no forecourt to the house; passers-by walked close to the windows; they could look in if they tried.

From Project Gutenberg

The sound of carriage wheels on the gravelled forecourt in the front of the house suddenly awakened her drowsy senses.

From Project Gutenberg