Motorway

/ˈmoʊtərweɪ/ noun

Definition

A major road designed for fast traffic, with controlled access and multiple lanes; British term for highway or freeway.

Etymology

Compound of 'motor' + 'way', coined in the 1920s as automobiles became common. The concept was inspired by German autobahns built in the 1930s.

Kelly Says

Britain's first motorway, the M1, opened in 1959 with no speed limit and no crash barriers - drivers could legally go as fast as their cars allowed! Speed limits weren't introduced until 1965.

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