curtilage

/ˈkʌrdlɪdʒ/

Other forms: curtilages

Curtilage is a fancy legal term for the enclosed land that surrounds a building and belongs with it as part of the same property.

The term comes from the Old French word cortil, meaning a "little court, walled garden, or yard." It's an important legal distinction for many reasons: In some American states, evidence improperly gathered from the curtilage of a property is considered as inadmissible as that gathered from inside a building on the property. In other cases, a property owner may legally defend himself against home invasion within the curtilage of his property, not just within the building itself.

Definitions of curtilage

1. noun

   the enclosed land around a house or other building
   synonyms: grounds, yard

   types:

   backyard

   the grounds in back of a house

   dooryard

   a yard outside the front or rear door of a house

   front yard

   the yard in front of a house; between the house and the street

   garden

   a yard or lawn adjoining a house

   playground

   yard consisting of an outdoor area for children's play

   side yard

   the grounds at either side of a house

   type of:

   field

   a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed