an area of ground at the side of a road; a raised area of ground at the side of a river or canal 护坡道；护道；戗堤 a narrow raised area of sand formed on a beach by the waves coming in from the sea 滩沿，后滨阶地（海浪淘沙淤积而成）
Word Originearly 18th cent. (denoting a narrow space): from French berme, from Dutch berm.