Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CAUS'EY, n. [cauz'y, corruptly Causeway. Norm. calsay; Fr. chaussée, for chaulsée, a bank, or raised way; Arm. chauçzer, the bank or mole of a pond. The Spanish has calzada, a causey, or way paved and raised; Port. calçada, a pavement, and stones used in paving. Both these words are evidently from the same root as Sp. calzas, Port. calçado, Sp. calzado, hose, loose breeches, trowsers, shoes, Fr. chausse, and the French word is evidently the same with the loss of l. The sense is probably taken from putting on, covering, Port. calçar, to put on shoes or stockings, to pave, Sp. calzar, id., L. calceo, calceus.]

A way raised above the natural level of the ground, by stones, earth, timber, fascines, &c., serving as a dry passage over wet or marshy ground, or as a mole to confine water to a pond or restrain it from overflowing lower ground. Most generally it is a way raised in a common road.