Definition of curtilage
: a piece of ground (such as a yard or courtyard) within the fence surrounding a house
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Origin and Etymology of curtilage
Middle English, from Anglo-French curtillage, from curtil garden, curtilage, from curt court
First Known Use: 14th century
Law Dictionary
curtilage
play
noun
cur·ti·lage
\ˈkərt-əl-ij\
Legal Definition of curtilage
: the area surrounding and associated with a home
Additional Notes on curtilage
The curtilage of a house is included in the Fourth Amendment prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures.
Origin and Etymology of curtilage
Anglo-French curtillage enclosed land belonging to a house, kitchen garden, from Old French cortillage kitchen garden, from cortil garden, ultimately from Latin cohort-, cohors farmyard
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