corniche

American  

[kawr-nish, kawr-neesh] / ˈkɔr nɪʃ, kɔrˈniʃ /

noun

1. a winding road cut into the side of a steep hill or along the face of a coastal cliff.

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corniche British  

/ ˈkɔːnɪʃ /

noun

1. a coastal road, esp one built into the face of a cliff

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Etymology

Origin of corniche

1830–40; < French, by ellipsis from route de corniche, route en corniche ( corniche rock ledge < Italian; see cornice)

Example Sentences

Luna El Bizri, the owner of Luna Pharm, the store destroyed in the attack, said her pharmacy’s neighborhood of Ain al-Mraiseh along Beirut’s seaside corniche had always been a haven.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Parallel to the tramway, much of Alexandria's iconic corniche is now hidden behind overpasses, private businesses and beachside food courts.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

People joked that you could drive from a Christian coastal city at 6 p.m. and reach Beirut’s corniche at 5:30 p.m.

From Washington Post • Mar. 27, 2023

Migrants gathered on Doha’s famous corniche to represent their communities 30 days ahead of the World Cup.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 31, 2022

He was an honest, kindly-natured man, this pear-headed potentate, who reigned, “comme la corniche règne autour d’un plafond.”

From Lola Montez An Adventuress of the 'Forties by d'Auvergne, Edmund B.