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Why are roads "metalled"?

Question

Why is a newly surfaced road said to be metalled, when it’s made of asphalt?
Mike, Crawley

Answer

** Definitive **
Name: Martin, Boreham Wood
Qualification: Latin and English at university
Answer: Metalling is from the Latin metallim, meaning a mine or quarry. With the stone chippings used on Roman roads, it was called a metal road.

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