backyard English · revision 15305

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1618}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bækˈjɑːd/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|en|back|yard]], also written back-yard.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A plot of ground at the rear of a house: the 1650s in Etymonline, perhaps from the early 15th century;^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster dates it to 1618.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Britain a backyard is usually a small paved area behind a house, in North America a back garden, often grassed.^(COED 2004)^(LDOCE 2009) Informally it is also one's own neighbourhood, regarded with possessive concern, as in ''not in my backyard'',^(COED 2004)^(NODE 1998) and as an adjective it describes someone working unofficially from home, as a backyard mechanic.^(Chambers 2008)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1618 – backyard (Merriam-Webster).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1650s – a yard behind a house.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(British)'' A yard behind a house, often paved.^(COED 2004)^(LDOCE 2009)

+ # ''(North America)'' A [[garden]] behind a house.^(COED 2004)^(LDOCE 2009)

+ # ''(informal)'' The area close to where one lives, or one's own area of interest.^(COED 2004)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Working unofficially or on a small scale from home: ''a backyard mechanic''.^(Chambers 2008)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[back]]

+ * [[yard]]

+ * [[garden]]

+ * [[NIMBY]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}