Curtilage – legal term. Etymology: The word derives from Middle English: courtelage. From Old French: cortillage or cortil ("court, yard, garden") plus diminutive suffix -age.
In law, the curtilage of a house or dwelling is the land immediately surrounding it, including any closely associated buildings and structures, but excluding any associated "open fields beyond". Curtilage also excluded closely associated buildings, structures, or divisions that contain separate intimate activities. Thus, though open to interpretation because not defined in the deed, cartilage is intended to delineate the boundary within which a home owner can have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
In urban properties, the location of the curtilage may be evident from the position of fences, wall and similar; within larger properties it may be a matter of some legal debate as to where the private area ends and the 'open fields' start.
