English

fosseway

From fosse + way.

A compound of fosse + way

Proto-Indo-European *ters- ‘dry’

…

Latin terra ‘dug-up earth’

Latin fossa ‘ditch, trench’

Old French fosse

Middle English fosse

English fosse

Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ- ‘to bring’

Proto-Germanic *wegaz

Proto-West Germanic *weg ‘way’

Old English weġ

Middle English way

English way

Today it means

noun A Roman military road built with a fosse or ditch on either side for drainage and defense purposes.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / fosseway