nature [ nā ch ər ]
ORIGIN Middle English (denoting the physical power of a person): from Old French, from Latin natura ‘birth, nature, quality,’ from nat- ‘born,’ from the verb nasci.
the basic or inherent features of something, esp. when seen as characteristic of it
stone [ stīn ] [ stōn ]
ORIGIN Old English stān (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch steen and German Stein. The verb dates from Middle English
the hard, solid, nonmetallic mineral matter of which rock is made, esp. as a building material : the houses are built of stone | [as adj. ] high stone walls.
dry stonewall [ˈstōnˌwôl ]
ORIGIN Old English , from Latin vallum ‘rampart,’ from vallus ‘stake.’
A wall built without mortar. Also known as a
drystane dyke (Scot.) or dry stone hedge (Cornwall).
cairn [ ke(ə)rn ]
ORIGIN late Middle English : from Scottish Gaelic carn.
a mound of rough stones built as a memorial or landmark, typically on a hilltop or skyline.
• a prehistoric burial mound made of stones.
coping [ˈkōpi ng ]
ORIGIN mid 16th cent.: from the verb cope, originally meaning [dress in a cope,] hence [to cover.]
The top, typically sloping, course of a brick or stone wall.
paving [ˈpāvi ng ]
ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French paver ‘pave.’
the materials used for a pavement.
(often be paved with)
cover (a piece of ground) with concrete, asphalt, stones, or bricks; lay paving over : the yard at the front was paved with flagstones.
dyke [ dīk ]
ORIGIN Middle English (denoting a trench or ditch): from Old Norse dík, related to ditch .
a long wall or embankment built to prevent flooding from the sea.
• [often in place names ] a low wall or earthwork serving as a boundary or defense
ditch [ di ch ]
ORIGIN Old English dīc, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dijk ‘ditch, dike’ and German Teich ‘pond, pool,’ also to dike.
a narrow channel dug in the ground, typically used for drainage alongside a road or the edge of a field.
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