I. noun
or berme ˈbərm
( -s )
Etymology: French berme, from Dutch berm strip of ground along a dike; akin to Old Norse barmr edge, brim — more at brim
: a narrow shelf, edge, or path typically at the bottom or top of a slope or along a bank: as
a. : a ledge between the foot of the exterior slope and the top of the scarp of a fortification
b. : a narrow shelf near the top of a trench or dugout to prevent dirt slides and to provide supports for beams
c. : the level space between the edge of a ditch and the bank of earth excavated from it
d. : the bank of a canal opposite the towpath
poorly constructed sections of the canal's berm and towpath … were dangerously vulnerable to muskrat burrowings and flood pressure — S.H.Adams
e. : the shoulder of a road
deer … were feeding on the berm of the highway between the concrete and the guardrails — Norman Erickson
f. : the nearly horizontal portion of a beach generally bounded on one side or other by a beach ridge or beach scarp
waves wash across the beach to the berm — W.C.Krumbein & R.L.Miller
g. : bench 5a
h. North & Midland : tree belt
II. transitive verb
Etymology: berm , noun
1. : to provide with a berm (as of earth)
2. : to form into a berm
he bermed the earth up to the bottom of the big windows — Philip Langdon