What does metalled mean?
Metalled is an adjective, used chiefly in British English, for something made from, covered with, or surfaced using metal or a similar hard material. Its best-known use is in the phrase metalled road, where it describes a road with a firm surface such as metal, crushed stone or gravel rather than an unpaved track of earth. The word can also convey the appearance or solidity of a metal surface. In older usage, a metalled road might have been surfaced with small pieces of metal or other hard material, so the modern term does not necessarily mean that a road was paved with modern asphalt or concrete. The expression remains common in British, Australian and New Zealand speech, while North American English usually uses paved or, where metal is specifically intended, metal-covered. Metalled also provides a useful example of the British practice of doubling the final consonant in certain inflected forms.
adjectiveCovered with or made of metal. Especially in British English, it refers to a road made with a firm surface of metal, crushed stone, gravel or a similar material.
- Made of, covered with, or surfaced using metal or a metal-like hard material.
- Characterized by a hard, metallic surface, especially of a road.
"We followed a narrow metalled road through the hills."
"Heavy rain turned the metalled track into a ribbon of mud."
"The old cart path was eventually metalled, making the journey much easier in winter."
A metalled road is not necessarily paved with steel: in traditional British usage, the term can describe any firm surface made from metal, crushed stone or gravel.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does metalled come from?
Metalled was formed in English by adding the suffix -ed to metal in the sense of covering something with metal or hard material. Metal itself comes through Old French from Latin metallum, a borrowing from Greek metallon, originally referring to a metal or a place where metals were obtained. Related English words include metallic, metallurgy and metallize, all of which continue the same Latin and Greek root.
Related word forms
How metalled is actually used
Chiefly used in British and southern hemisphere English. It is especially associated with roads and paths; North American speakers are more likely to say paved or metal-covered.