A berm is a naturally occurring or man-made mound of earth, often found near bodies of water.

Berms are
among the oldest constructions made by man and have been used for centuries to contain areas, bolster
defenses, aid in home construction, provide privacy, and add variation to a landscape. The term is also
used to refer to the flattened area of a beach slightly above the tide line created by repeated sediment
deposits from storm waves. The word is of Dutch origin, and is one of many Dutch words used to discuss
barriers in the natural landscape.
A basic berm can be created simply by mounding soil, and is almost always found in close proximity to a
trench or another dug out area. In this case, the gently sloping earth helps to prevent erosion, a common
problem, especially with deep trenches. This type is common in defense engineering constructions,
because it is difficult to advance over the construction, and soldiers can use the mound to provide
defensive cover. In military terms, this is also sometimes called an earthwork, and archaeological evidence
of ancient military earthworks has been found in many parts of the world. Many road construction crews
also create berms of this type, which helps to serve as a sound baffle for neighboring homes, while
excavating land for a new road.