causeway

Meanings

Noun

• A road that is raised so as to be above water, marshland, and similar low-lying obstacles. Originally causeways were much like dykes, generally pierced to let water through, whereas many modern causeways are more like bridges or viaducts.

Verb

• To pave, to cobble.

Origin

• From Middle English cauceweye, with the first element from Anglo-Norman, Old Northern French caucee or Old French caucie, cauchie, from Vulgar Latin *calciāta (compare modern French chaussée from Old French chaucie, itself from the same source), either from Latin calx, calcis, or alternatively from Latin calciāre, from calx. The second element corresponds to English way.