garðs

Garðs is the genitive singular form of the Icelandic and Old Norse masculine noun garður, which denotes a garden, yard, or enclosed space associated with a dwelling or farmstead. In both languages the base sense centers on an area that is fenced or otherwise bounded and used for cultivation, storage, or private outdoor space. The genitive form garðs is used in possessive constructions and in historical or formal contexts.

Etymology and related terms: The word derives from Proto-Germanic roots meaning enclosure or fence. Cognates appear across Germanic languages, such as Old English geard and related terms in other languages, all referring to an enclosed space or cultivated area. The concept of a defined, protected outdoor space has long been central to rural life in the Nordic and Germanic-speaking worlds.

Usage and forms: In modern Icelandic, garður remains the common word for a garden or yard, with garðs serving as the genitive singular form. In Old Norse and in historical texts, garður and its inflected forms appear in various grammatical contexts, including descriptions of homesteads, gardens, and farmyards. The term also survives in place names and in older spellings preserved in manuscripts and sagas.

See also: garður, geard, garden, enclosure, yard.