esplanade
/ˌɛspləˈneɪd
/ /ˌɛspləˈnɑːd/noun
1A long, open, level area, typically beside the sea, along which people may walk for pleasure.To begin though, I settle into a daily regime that involves nothing more challenging than a walk into Funchal along the esplanade, behind the squadrons of yachts in the town's marina....
- It is also an easy stroll along the esplanade to Estoril if you feel like a slight change of scene or want to lose your money at the enormous casino.
- Then they went for a stroll along the beachfront esplanade.
1.1An open, level space separating a fortress from a town.The esplanade outside the castle walls is the site for the Military Tattoo, one of Edinburgh's three most celebrated festivals....
- Stretching from the castle esplanade to the palace of Holyroodhouse, the Royal Mile, or High Street, has undergone various incarnations since it came into being in mediaeval times.
- The esplanade in front of Edinburgh Castle is legally owned by Nova Scotia, dating from a deal concluded by Charles I and never revoked.
Origin
Late 16th century (denoting an area of flat ground on top of a rampart): from French, from Italian spianata, from Latin explanatus 'flattened, levelled', from explanare (see explain).