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Courtyard vs Alley - What's the difference?

courtyard | alley |

As nouns the difference between courtyard and alley

is that courtyard is an area, open to the sky, partially or wholly surrounded by walls or buildings while alley is a narrow street or passageway, especially one through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings or alley can be a glass marble or taw.

courtyard

Noun

(en noun)
  • an area, open to the sky, partially or wholly surrounded by walls or buildings
  • She sat in the courtyard , enjoying the garden.

    See also

    * atrium * forecourt * court * yard

    alley

    English

    (wikipedia alley)

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) and (etyl) alee, feminine of .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A narrow street or passageway, especially one through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings.
  • The parking lot to my friend's apartment building is in the alley .
  • (baseball) The area between the outfielders, the gap.
  • He hit one deep into the alley .
  • (bowling) An establishment where bowling is played; bowling alley.
  • (tennis) The extra area between the sidelines or tramlines on a tennis court that is used for doubles matches.
  • A walk or passage in a garden or park, bordered by rows of trees or bushes.
  • * Milton
  • I know each lane and every alley green.
  • A passageway between rows of pews in a church.
  • (perspective drawing) Any passage having the entrance represented as wider than the exit, so as to give the appearance of length.
  • The space between two rows of compositors' stands in a printing office.
  • Derived terms
    * alleyway * up someone's alley

    See also

    * alleyway * bunnyrun * gennel, ginnel, gunnel, jennel * jitty * lane * passage * snicket * wynd

    Etymology 2

    Diminutive of (alabaster).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A glass marble or taw.
  • Anagrams

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