esplanade

Meanings

1. A clear space between a citadel and the nearest houses of the town.
2. The glacis of the counterscarp, or the slope of the parapet of the covered way toward the country.
3. A grass plat; a lawn.
4. Any clear, level space used for public walks or drives; especially, a terrace by the seaside.
5. Grassy strips between two divided highway lanes; a traffic island.

Etymology

1590s, from French esplanade (“clear, level space”), from either Spanish esplanada (explanada), form of esplanar (“to flatten, to make level”) or Italian spianata, form of spianare (of the same meaning), both from Latin explānāre, from which English explain; see also plain (“level area, to flatten”).