Pavement
Pavement is a word that differs in meaning between the United States and other English-speaking countries.
In the US, it means any hard smooth rock-like surface put over dirt to make it easier to travel on. Typical materials used are asphalt or concrete. It is usually associated with public places. The word comes from the Latin "to strike, pound".
Since the 13th century, the British have used the word to mean the strips along the side or a road meant for pedestrians, because these strips are usually surfaced with paving stones, a construction material commonly used in the region. The area for vehicles is called the carriageway because it is for carriages (now abbreviated to cars).
Synonyms are "Sidewalk" and "Footpath".
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References[edit]
- Oxford English Dictionary