courtyard

court-yard · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    An open area enclosed by walls or buildings, typically within a larger building complex.

  2. 2.

    An unroofed area attached to a house and enclosed by walls.

Forms

plural: courtyards

Related words

See also: atrium, garden, patio
Synonyms: enclosure, patio, quadrangle

Etymology

Compound of "court" (enclosed area) + "yard" (enclosed ground), first recorded in the 16th century.