A cul-de-sac ( literally `` bottom of bag '' ) is a word that came from the French language . It is also used in Catalan and Occitan , origin meaning to a dead end , close , or no through road ( United Kingdom , Australian and Canadian English ) . A cul-de-sac ( literally `` bottom of bag '' ) is a word of French origin referring to a dead end , close , no through road ( UK , Australian and Canadian English ) or court ( American English and Australian English ) meaning dead-end street with only one inlet\/outlet .