<P> The expression cul - de-sac comes from French , where it originally meant `` bottom of the sack '' . It was first used in English in anatomy ( since 1738 ) . It was used for dead - end streets since 1800 in English ( since the 14th century in French ) . The often heard erroneous folk etymology `` arse / ass ( buttocks ) of the sack '' is based on the modern meaning of cul in French , Catalan , and Occitan , but cul does n't have that meaning in cul - de-sac , which is still used to refer to dead ends in modern French although the terms impasse and voie sans issue are more common in modern French . </P>
<P> The expression cul - de-sac comes from French , where it originally meant `` bottom of the sack '' . It was first used in English in anatomy ( since 1738 ) . It was used for dead - end streets since 1800 in English ( since the 14th century in French ) . The often heard erroneous folk etymology `` arse / ass ( buttocks ) of the sack '' is based on the modern meaning of cul in French , Catalan , and Occitan , but cul does n't have that meaning in cul - de-sac , which is still used to refer to dead ends in modern French although the terms impasse and voie sans issue are more common in modern French . </P>
where does the term dead end come from
where does the term dead end come from
French
French