berm

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

berm, n. [F. berme, of German origin; cf. G. brame, bräme, border, akin to E. brim.].

•  A narrow shelf or path between the bottom of a parapet and the ditch.  [1913 Webster]
•  A ledge at the bottom of a bank or cutting, to catch earth that may roll down the slope, or to strengthen the bank.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

berm, n.
1 a narrow path or grass strip beside a road, canal, etc.
2 a narrow ledge, esp. in a fortification between a ditch and the base of a parapet.

Etymology

F berme f. Du. berm

THESAURUS

berm

alameda, bank, beach, beaten path, beaten track, bicycle path, boardwalk, bridle path, catwalk, coast, coastland, coastline, embankment, esplanade, fastwalk, foot pavement, footpath, footway, foreshore, garden path, groove, hiking trail, ironbound coast, lido, littoral, mall, parade, path, pathway, plage, playa, prado, promenade, public walk, riverside, riviera, rockbound coast, run, runway, rut, sands, sea margin, seabank, seabeach, seaboard, seacliff, seacoast, seashore, seaside, shingle, shore, shoreline, sidewalk, strand, submerged coast, tidewater, towing path, towpath, track, trail, trottoir, walk, walkway, waterfront, waterside