Berm

1. On a beach a nearly horizontal plateau on the beach face or backshore, formed by the deposition of beach material by wave action or by means of a mechanical plant as part of a beach renourishment scheme. Some natural beaches have no berm, others have several. 2. On a structure: a nearly horizontal area, often built to support or key-in an armor layer. (US Army Corps of Engineers, Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory Glossary, 2015)