geard
The Old English word for garden is geard.
geard is a noun meaning a piece of land outside with flowers and plants.
Meaning: piece of land outside with flowers and plants (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, geard means an enclosure, yard or garden.
Did you know?
- The term geard is cognate with the Old Norse word garðr, which appears in the name of the mythological realm 'Asgard'.
- While we use 'garden' for plants today, geard was often used to describe the fortified walls surrounding a settlement.
- Because geard meant an enclosure, it could be used to describe many things that a modern English speaker would never call a garden, such as a livestock pen.
Examples in context
- Hē plantað on þām gearde.He plants in the garden.
- Se geard is swiðe micel.The garden is very large.
Example conversation
Wulfrun and Eadric are standing outside their home.
- WulfrunHwǣr is se geard?Where is the garden?
- EadricHit is hēr.It is here.
- WulfrunSe geard is fæġer.The garden is beautiful.
- EadricIc ġiefe þē blōstman.I give you flowers.
