(US, slang) A soldier who is required to perform menial work on the grounds of a military base.
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ˈjɑːd.bəːd/
Etymology
From yard + bird. Attested since 1956 in the sense of ‘convict,’ derived from the idea of prison yards. During World War II, it meant ‘basic trainee’ among the armed forces.