pavement

The story

1. Latin · derived frompavīmentum“paved surface or floor”
2. Middle French · derived frompavement
3. Anglo-Norman · derived frompavement
4. Middle English · inherited frompament
5. English todaypavement

From Middle English pament, from Anglo-Norman pavement and reinforced by Middle French pavement; both from Latin pavīmentum (“paved surface or floor”), from pavīre (“to beat, to ram, to tread down”). Morphologically pave + -ment.

First known use, by meaning

• from 13th c. A paved surface; a hard covering on the ground.
• from 18th c. A paved path, for the use of pedestrians, located at the side of a road.
• from 13th c. A paving (paved part) of a road or other thoroughfare; the roadway or road surface.
• from 19th c. The interior flooring of a church sanctuary, between the communion rail and the altar.