Editing Yard (section)

==Name==
{{hatnote|See also: [[virgate|yardland]], [[ell]], and [[rod (unit)|rod]].}}
The term, ''yard'' derives from the [[Old English]] {{lang|ang|gerd}}, {{lang|ang|gyrd}} etc., which was used for [[branch]]es, staves and [[measuring rod]]s.{{sfnp|OED|1921|loc="[http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/231201 yard, n.2]"}} It is first attested in the late 7th century [[Ine of Wessex#Laws|laws]] of [[Ine of Wessex]],{{sfnp|Thorpe|1840|p=63}} wherein the "yard of land" mentioned{{sfnp|Thorpe|1840|p=63}} is the [[virgate|yardland]], an old English unit of [[tax assessment]]<!--not area--> equal to {{frac|4}}&nbsp;[[hide (unit)|hide]].{{refn|group=n|The later Latin gloss {{lang|la|virgata terre}} describes it as "branched".}} Around the same time the [[Lindisfarne Gospels]] account of the [[messengers from John the Baptist]] in the [[Gospel of Matthew]]<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|11:7}}</ref> used it for a branch swayed by the wind.{{sfnp|OED|1921|loc="[http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/231201 yard, n.2]"}} In addition to the yardland, Old and [[Middle English]] both used their forms of "yard" to denote the [[Surveying|survey]]ing lengths of {{convert|15|ft}} or {{convert|16.5|ft}}, used in computing [[acre]]s, a distance now usually known as the "[[rod (unit)|rod]]".{{sfnp|OED|1921|loc="[http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/231201 yard, n.2]"}}

A unit of three English feet is attested in [[Composition of Yards and Perches|a statute of {{circa|lk=no|1300}}]] ([[#Origin|see below]]), but there it is called an [[ell (unit)|ell]] ({{lang|la|ulna}}, {{abbr|lit.|literally}}&nbsp;"[[arm]]"), a separate and usually longer unit of around {{convert|45|in}}. The use of the word ‘yard’ ({{langx|enm|ȝerd}} or {{lang|enm|ȝerde}}) to describe this length is first attested in [[William Langland]]'s poem on [[Piers Plowman]].{{sfnp|OED|1921|loc="[http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/231201 yard, n.2]"}}{{refn|group=n|{{langx|enm|Thanne drowe I me amonges draperes&nbsp;· my donet to lerne&nbsp;/ To drawe þe lyser alonge&nbsp;[·] þe lenger it semed&nbsp;/ Amonge þe riche rayes&nbsp;· I rendred a lessoun&nbsp;/ To broche hem with a bat-nedle&nbsp;· and plaited hem togyderes&nbsp;/ And put hem in a presse&nbsp;· and pyned hem þerinne&nbsp;/ Tyl ten ȝerdes or twelue&nbsp;· tolled out threttene}}{{sfnp|Langland|1377|loc=Ch.&nbsp;5:ll, lines&nbsp;211–216}}{{pb}} Translation: "Then tarried I amongst drapers&nbsp;· my grammar to learn;&nbsp;/To draw the [[selvedge]] along&nbsp;· the longer it seemed;&nbsp;/Among the rich ranged cloths&nbsp;· rendered a lesson,&nbsp;/ To pierce them with a pack-needle&nbsp;· and plait them together,&nbsp;/ Put them in a press&nbsp;· and pin them therein&nbsp;/ Till ten yards or twelve&nbsp;· had tolled out to thirteen.{{sfnp|Attwater|1957|p=38}}}} The usage seems to derive from the [[prototype (metrology)|prototype]] [[standard (metrology)|standard]] rods held by the king and his magistrates ([[#Origin|see below]]).

The word 'yard' is a [[homonym]] of 'yard' in the sense of [[yard (land)|an enclosed area of land]]. This second meaning of 'yard' has an [[etymology]] related to the word ‘garden’ and is not related to the unit of measurement.{{sfnp|OED|1921|loc="[http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/231200 yard, n.1]"}}{{sfnp|OED|1921|loc="[http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/78456 gird, v.1]"}}

In [[India]] the yard is colloquially known as a [[guz]], which equals 3 feet.