overschuur

Overschuur is a Dutch term that has appeared with several meanings in different historical and regional contexts. In architectural and building language, an overschuur often refers to a projecting part of a barn or shed—essentially a canopy or overhang created by extending the roof beyond the outer wall. In some regional usages, the word can denote a small attached outbuilding used for storage or shelter.

A second sense of overschuur relates to agriculture or economy, where the term describes an excess or surplus stock, such as grain or hay beyond what is needed or affordable to store. In certain contexts it can denote a budget or resource surplus beyond planned needs, though this usage is less common in modern standard Dutch.

A third meaning appears in land use or property contexts. In historical documents, overschuur may refer to land area that lies outside the official boundary of a parcel due to old field divisions or fencing practices; such references are largely obsolete in contemporary cadastral terminology but may be encountered in archival materials.

Etymology and usage notes: overschuur is formed from over- (“beyond”) and schuur (“shed” or “barn”). The term is now mostly archaic or regional; in current standard Dutch, more common words for similar senses include uitbouw (extension), overstek (overhang), overschot (surplus), or surplus terms referring to land boundaries.

See also: overstek, uitbouw, schuur, overschrijding.