# Hyde

/ˈhaɪd/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hyde
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. unit of land

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · British English

an old way to measure land in England, usually enough to support one family.

For teachers: an archaic English unit of land measurement, historically considered sufficient to support a household.

- The old documents describe a farm consisting of one hyde of land.
- In the Domesday Book, the hyde served as a primary unit for assessing tax and military obligations across the English shires.

Usage: Usually spelled 'hide' in modern historical texts; 'hyde' is the archaic variant.

### 2. surname or place name

noun · CEFR B2

a common last name or the name of a town or park.

For teachers: a proper noun denoting a topographic surname or any of several geographical locations.

- We spent the afternoon walking through Hyde Park in London.
- The researcher contacted Professor Hyde to discuss the archaeological findings near the village of the same name.

## Examples

- The local lord owned several hydes of fertile land.
- Historical records indicate that the village was assessed at five hydes for the purpose of calculating taxes.
- While the exact acreage of a hyde fluctuated between regions, it served as a fundamental fiscal unit for land taxation and military service in Anglo-Saxon England.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.