Yard (?), n. [OE. yerd, AS. gierd, gyrd, a rod, stick, a measure, a yard; akin to OFries. ierde, OS. gerda, D. garde, G. gerte, OHG. gartia, gerta, gart, Icel. gaddr a goad, sting, Goth. gazds, and probably to L. hasta a spear. Cf. Gad, n., Gird, n., Gride, v. i., Hastate.]
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1. A rod; a stick; a staff. [Obs.] P. Plowman.
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If men smote it with a yerde. Chaucer.
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2. A branch; a twig. [Obs.]
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The bitter frosts with the sleet and rain
Destroyed hath the green in every yerd. Chaucer.
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3. A long piece of timber, as a rafter, etc. [Obs.]
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4. A measure of length, equaling three feet, or thirty-six inches, being the standard of English and American measure.
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5. The penis.
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6. (Naut.) A long piece of timber, nearly cylindrical, tapering toward the ends, and designed to support and extend a square sail. A yard is usually hung by the center to the mast. See Illust. of Ship.
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7. (Zoöl.) A place where moose or deer herd together in winter for pasture, protection, etc.
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Golden Yard, or Yard and Ell (Astron.), a popular name of the three stars in the belt of Orion. -- Under yard [i. e., under the rod], under contract. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Yard, v. t. To confine (cattle) to the yard; to shut up, or keep, in a yard; as, to yard cows.
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