ȝerde

Middle English

Etymology 1

Inherited from Old English ġerd, from Proto-West Germanic *gaʀdi, from Proto-Germanic *gazdijō. related to Polish żerdź from Proto-Slavic *žьrdь ("perch, pole, ricker").

Alternative forms

• yerd, yerde, ȝerd, ȝearde, yarde, ȝeorde, ȝeord, ȝarde, ȝyrde, ȝeird, yherd, yherde

Pronunciation

• (Early Middle English) IPA^(key): /ˈjiːrd/
• IPA^(key): /ˈjɛːrd/, /ˈjɛrd/
• (Late Middle English) IPA^(key): /ˈjard/

Noun

ȝerde (plural ȝerdes or ȝerden)

2. A bar or rod; a long, skinny piece of material:
   1. A twig or shoot; a small branch or extension from a trunk.
   2. A crutch or staff; a bar used to support something.
   3. A baton; a bar used as a blunt weapon.
   4. A bar used to stop a joint from moving; a splint.
   5. A rod used to represent legitimacy, right, and might.
   6. (rare) A magical or mystical rod.
   7. (rare) A ruler totalling a yard.
3. One's penis or phallus; the main sexual organ of a male.
4. A yard (unit of length consisting of three feet, often used for fabric)
5. A unit of area averaging approximately 30 acres; a virgate.
6. An upright slab of wood which a sail is attached onto.
7. An offspring or heir; one that descends from a lineage.
8. (rare) A line or column of smoke or mist.

Derived terms

• kineȝerde

Descendants

• English: yard, yerd
• Scots: yaird, yeard, yird

References

• “yē̆rd, n.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-07-26.

Etymology 2

Noun

ȝerde

1. Alternative form of yerd (“land; property”)