in the burbs

Out in Soundview, people live in the Bronx as if it were the suburbs.

From Wikipedia: “The word is derived from the old French subburbe, which is in turn derived from the Latin suburbium, formed from sub (meaning "under") and urbs ("city").”

“In Ancient Rome wealthy and important people tended to live on the hills of the city while poorer citizens lived at lower elevations – hence "under the city".”

“The first recorded usage of the term in English, according to the Oxford English Dictionary was made in 1380, where the form subarbis was used.”

But they live right on the water and they have cars and barbecue grills and grassy backyards and two story houses.

So who is really “under” whom?”

Hm?