In article ,
Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:

So it seems - the use of 'yard' sounded American. It's not unknown for
people to wander in and find they've lost the way!

When I was a kid the concreted area outside the kitchen window was
referred to as the yard. Yard=garden is an Americanism, but yard as
distinct from garden isn't.

No, it isn't. Like many Americanisms, it's just old-fashioned
English. Yard in that sense dates from 1350 - a time at which
Transpondia had not yet been invaded - and lasted up to the
present day in various dialects. It's no more extreme than
referring to a brock.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.