gerd

See also: Gerd, GERD, gerð, and Gerð

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *gazdijō, whence also Old High German gerta.

Noun

ġerd f

1. (Anglian) branch, twig
2. (Anglian) stick, rod, staff
3. (Anglian) measuring rod
4. (Anglian, unit of measurement) the rod, perch, or pole of around 15 feet used in computing acres
5. (Anglian, unit of measurement) the yard, yardland, or virgate of around 30 acres used in dividing hides of land

Usage notes

The predecessor of the English term yard and sometimes translated as such but probably not ever equal to an ell (ulna) of 3 feet until the Middle English period. As a unit of area, usually written as "a yard of land".

Descendants

• yard
• virgāta