boulevard

Where does the word "boulevard" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch bolwerc, passing through French before entering English (1800s).

Boulevard’s story begins in Middle Dutch: bolwerc meant “a rampart, fortification.” A bulwark or rampart, later the wide road built atop demolished fortifications. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as boulevard. From Dutch 'bolwerk', rampart; Paris replaced its old walls with boulevards in the 1600s. It reached English by 1800s as boulevard. Settled as the English word for a broad, often tree-lined street. Today, boulevard means a broad, often tree-lined street or avenue.

1. Stage 1 · Middle Dutch · medieval bolwerc "a rampart, fortification", a bulwark or rampart, later the wide road built atop demolished fortifications.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1700s boulevard "a wide, tree-lined avenue", from Dutch 'bolwerk', rampart; Paris replaced its old walls with boulevards in the 1600s.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s boulevard "a broad, often tree-lined street", settled as the English word for a broad, often tree-lined street.