thoroughfare
/ˈθʌɹəfɛː/ noun
Forms thoroughfares thorofare throughfare thoroughfair thorowfair
- noun (now rare except in certain set phrases) A passage; a way through.
- noun A road open at both ends or connecting one area with another; a highway or main street.
- noun (uncountable) The act of going through; passage; travel, transit. “The sign leading to the other carriage reads: No thoroughfare.”
- noun An unobstructed waterway allowing passage for ships.
Etymology
From Middle English thurghfare, corresponding to thorough- (“through”) + fare. Compare Old English þurhfaran (“to go through, go over, traverse, pierce, pass through, pass beyond, transcend, penetrate”). Compare also Old English þurhfær (“inner secret place”), German Durchfahrt (“passage through, thoroughfare”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A passage through; a passage from one street or opening to another; an unobstructed way open to the public; a public road; hence, a frequented street.
- noun A passing or going through; passage. [R.]
Etymology [AS. þurhfaru.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “thoroughfare”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details