A narrow ledge or path, especially one at the edge of a road or canal, or a ridge of earth built to block or contain something.
From Dutch 'berm,' which originally referred to a path along a canal or the edge of a dike. It entered English in the 17th century, borrowed from Dutch engineering terminology when the Netherlands was known for advanced water management. The word has kept its technical meaning in English.
Berms are engineering marvels that most people never notice—they're the slightly raised edges along highways that prevent water from pooling, or the barriers used in skate parks to create turns! The Dutch invented sophisticated berm systems for water management, and now we see them everywhere from roads to skateparks.
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