neutral ground

neutral ground
neutral ground
n. Louisiana & Southern Mississippi 1) See MEDIAN(Cf. ↑median). 2) The grass strip, often planted with shade trees, between a sidewalk and a street.
Word History: The term neutral ground originates in the 1800s in New Orleans, when Anglophone Americans first took up residence in the city among the original inhabitants of Creole heritage. At the time, there was an empty strip of land that was supposed to become a drainage canal. The newcomers built their houses on the upriver side of the strip, while the Creoles continued to build on the downriver side, in the area that would eventually become known as the French Quarter. There were frequent disputes between the two groups, but the strip of land between them was considered neutral ground. The canal itself was never built, and the strip eventually became the wide boulevard called Canal Street, with a big median strip down the middle. Neutral ground then came to be applied to any such median strip.

Word Histories. 2014.

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  • Neutral ground — may refer to: A No Man s Land The 30 mile wide stretch of land between the British troops occupying New York City during the American Revolution and American held territory in northern Westchester County, New York;[1] Neutral Ground (Louisiana),… …   Wikipedia

  • Neutral Ground (Louisiana) — For other uses, see No Man s Land (disambiguation). The Neutral Ground The Neutral Ground (also known as the Neutral Strip, the Neutral Territory, and the No Man s Land of Louisiana; sometimes anachronistically referred to as the Sabine Free… …   Wikipedia

  • neutral ground — Gulf States. 1. a median strip on a highway or boulevard, esp. one planted with grass. 2. the strip of grass between a street and sidewalk. [1815 25, Amer., for an earlier sense] * * * …   Universalium

  • neutral ground — Gulf States. 1. a median strip on a highway or boulevard, esp. one planted with grass. 2. the strip of grass between a street and sidewalk. [1815 25, Amer., for an earlier sense] …   Useful english dictionary

  • on neutral ground — on neutral ground/territory/ phrase in a place that is not owned by or connected with anyone involved in a situation Let’s meet somewhere on neutral territory – say a hotel. Thesaurus: separate and not relatedsynonym Main entry: neutral …   Useful english dictionary

  • Ground — may refer to: * The surface of the Earth * Soil, a mixture of sand and organic material present on the surface of the Earth * Ground (electricity), in electrical engineering, something that is connected to the Earth or at the voltage defined as… …   Wikipedia

  • neutral — neu|tral1 [ˈnju:trəl US ˈnu: ] adj ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(in an argument etc)¦ 2¦(in a war)¦ 3 on neutral ground/territory 4¦(language)¦ 5¦(voice/expression)¦ 6¦(colour)¦ 7¦(wire)¦ 8¦(chemical)¦ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [Date: 1400 1500; Origin: Early French, from …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • neutral — 1 adjective 1 IN AN ARGUMENT ETC not supporting either of the people or groups involved in an argument or disagreement: I always tried to remain neutral when they started arguing. 2 IN A WAR a country that is neutral does not support any of the… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • neutral — neu|tral1 [ nutrəl ] adjective ** ▸ 1 not involved ▸ 2 without strong feeling ▸ 3 colors: not strong ▸ 4 without electric charge ▸ 5 neither acid nor base ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) a country that is neutral does not get involved in a war between other… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • neutral — I UK [ˈnjuːtrəl] / US [ˈnutrəl] adjective ** 1) a country that is neutral does not get involved in a war between other countries Russia promised to remain neutral unless Germany attacked France. a) a neutral place is one where people do not… …   English dictionary

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