1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Promenade
PROMENADE, a walk taken for exercise or more especially for social amusement, hence a road, drive or other public place laid out for the purpose, a parade. The French word promenade was formerly pourmenade, and came from pourmener, promener, to take for a walk, Late Latin prominare, to drive an animal out to pasture, from pro, forward, minare, to drive on with cries and threats (minae). “Promenade concerts,” so called from the fact that the audience are free to walk about or “promenade,” were first introduced from Paris to London in 1838 under the name of “promenade concerts à la Musard,” after the concerts given by the French musician and conductor, Philippe Musard (1793–1859). They were given at the Lyceum Theatre (English Opera House).