devil strip

English

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devil strip

The tree-lined grassy area to the right is a devil strip

Alternative forms

devil's strip

Etymology

From devil +‎ strip, from the area’s status as a no man's land between private and public property, devil or devil's in place names meaning “barren, unproductive and unused”.^[1]^[2]

Compare devil's lane (“narrow area between two parallel fences”), devil's footstep (“barren spot of land”).

Noun

devil strip (plural devil strips)

(Akron, Ohio, US) The grassy area between the sidewalk and the street.

Synonyms

See list at tree lawn.

References

^ Dictionary of Regional American English
^ Word Detective: Tales from the berm

[1] Dictionary of Regional American English

[2] Word Detective: Tales from the berm

[1]