/ bɜːm; NAmE bɜːrm/ noun ( technical )
1.
an area of ground at the side of a road; a raised area of ground at the side of a river or canal
2.
a narrow raised area of sand formed on a beach by the waves coming in from the sea
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WORD ORIGIN
early 18th cent. (denoting a narrow space): from French berme , from Dutch berm .