Several of the earliest sources refer to the structure as "Wade's Causeway", "Wade's Causey", and "Wade's Wife's Causey". The word "causeway" derives from the earlier English "causey way" or simply "causey". "Causey" derives from the Middle English "cauci", which derives from the Anglo-French "causee", itself derived from the Medieval Latin "calciata" ("paved highway"), which ultimately may derive from the Latin "calx" (meaning "heel"). The derivation from "calx" can most likely be explained by the practice in the Ancient Roman era of consolidating earthworks through trampling with the heel of the foot.