Forms: 8–9 jourt, 9 jurt, y(o)urte, yurta, yu(e)rt, yort, 8– yourt. [ad. Russ. юрта, through F. yourte or G. jurte.] A semi-subterranean dwelling or hut of the natives of northern and central Asia, usually formed of timber covered with earth or turf. Also attrib.
1784. King, Cook’s Voy. Pacific, III. 9 May, 1779. Natcheekin is a very inconsiderable ostrog, having only one log-house, the residence of the Toion; five balagans, and one jourt.
1780. Coxe, Russ. Discov., 259. Six or seven of these huts or yourts make a village.
1858. Anne Bowman, Yng. Exiles, xii. 154. They made no scruple to enter the warm, though uninviting yurte.
1865. Tylor, Early Hist. Man., viii. 207. Stone knives … have been found in the high north-east of Siberia, on the site of deserted yourts of modern date.
1899. Baring-Gould, Furze Bloom, iii. 29. A Khan’s yourte on the steppes of Central Asia.
