'courtyard' originates from Middle English, specifically the words 'court' and 'yard', where 'court' meant 'an enclosed space' and 'yard' meant 'an area of ground'.

'court' and 'yard' combined in Middle English to form 'courtyard', eventually becoming the modern English word 'courtyard'.

Initially, it meant 'an enclosed area', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'an open space surrounded by buildings'.