Coteau
/koʊˈtoʊ/noun
A hill or ridge, especially a steep slope or escarpment.
Did you know?Coteau comes from French geography, and in North American place names it often marks the edge of ancient glacial or river-cut high ground, turning a simple word into a map of old landscapes.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
cottum
“stone, rock”
Old French
OF
cote
“side, slope, hill flank”
Middle French
MF
coteau
“small hill or slope”
Modern English
English
coteau
“a hill or ridge, especially in a place name or geographic context”