barnyard
|barn-yard|
🇺🇸
/ˈbɑrnˌjɑrd/
🇬🇧
/ˈbɑːn.jɑːd/
yard beside a barn
Etymology
'barnyard' originates from Old English, specifically from the compound of 'barn' and 'yard', where 'barn' ultimately comes from Old English 'bere-ærn' in which 'bere' meant 'barley' and 'ærn' meant 'house', and 'yard' comes from Old English 'geard' meaning 'enclosure'.
'barnyard' developed in Middle English by combining forms of 'barn' (from Old English 'bern' or 'bere-ærn') and 'yard' (from Old English 'geard'), eventually becoming the modern English compound 'barnyard'.
Initially, it meant 'an enclosure or yard attached to a barn', and this basic meaning has remained largely unchanged into modern English.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the yard or open area next to or around a barn, typically where farm animals are kept or farm work is carried out.
The children played in the barnyard all afternoon.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2026/01/17 17:56