Etymology Map
Back to all words

Macadam

2 stages from Scottish Gaelic to English.

Today it means a road surface of compacted broken stone, often bound with tar

Where does the word "macadam" come from? It comes from Scottish Gaelic Mac Adaim, adopted directly into English (1820s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
Mac Adaim
Scottish Gaelic · medieval
"son of Adam"
'son of Adam', a Gaelic patronymic surname
2
Stage 2 of 2
macadam
English · 1820s
"road of compacted stone"
after John Loudon McAdam of Ayr, whose 1816 Remarks on the Present System of Road Making laid out roads of compacted small stones; tar-bound 'tarmac' was patented by Edgar Purnell Hooley in 1902
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Macadam’s story begins in Scottish Gaelic: Mac Adaim meant “son of Adam.” 'son of Adam', a Gaelic patronymic surname. It reached English by 1820s as macadam. After John Loudon McAdam of Ayr, whose 1816 Remarks on the Present System of Road Making laid out roads of compacted small stones; tar-bound 'tarmac' was patented by Edgar Purnell Hooley in 1902. Today, macadam means a road surface of compacted broken stone, often bound with tar.