Causeway

Definitions

A road that is raised so as to be above water, marshland, and similar low-lying obstacles, which in some cases may flood periodically (e.g. due to tides). Originally causeways were much like dykes, generally pierced to let water through, whereas many modern causeways are more like bridges or viaducts.

Equivalents

Examples

“1836, Account of the Old Bridge at Stratford-le-Bow in Essex from Alfred Burges, Esq. addressed to Sir Henry Ellis https://archive.org/details/archaeologiaorm01londgoog . . .the passage over the water of the Luye at Stratford atte Bowe, anciently used to be in a certain place⟳ which is called the Old Forde, which is distant from the place⟳ where the bridges and causeway now are nearly one mile, at which passage many persons passing over it at divers times were drowned, and in great danger, and when after so much danger came to the knowledge of Lady Matilda, Queen of England […]”

“Throughout the parish are ancient causeways paved with irregular slabs of local marble, and in some places the outline of the fossils of small snails can be seen in the stone. The causeways were laid as hard paths for heavily laden pack-animals bringing in wool from outlying hamlets and farms.”

CEFR level