αὐλή prob. from ἄημι (ἄϝημι) to blow, for the αὐλή was open to the air
I.in Hom. the court-yard, surrounded with out-buildings, and having the altar of Ζεὺς Ἑρκεῖος in the middle, so that it was at once the meeting-place of the family, and the cattle-yard, Il.: it had two doors, viz. the house-door (cf. αὔλειος), and another leading through the αἴθουσα into the πρόδομος, Od.
2.the wall of the court-yard, Il.
II.after Hom., the αὐλή was the court or quadrangle, round which the house itself was built, having a corridor (περιστύλιον), from which were doors leading into the men's apartments; opposite the house-door (cf. αὔλειος) was the μέσαυλος or μέταυλος (q.v.), leading into the women's part of the house, Hdt., attic
III.generally, any court or hall, Hom., Trag.
