a mass of debris, carried by glaciers and forming ridges and mounds when deposited
Derived forms
morainal (moˈrainal) or morainic (moˈrainic)
adjective
Word origin
C18: from French, from Savoy dialect morena, of obscure origin
moraine in American English
(məˈreɪn; mɔˈreɪn)
noun
a mound, ridge, or mass of rocks, gravel, sand, clay, etc. carried and deposited directly by a glacier, along its side (lateral moraine), at its lower end (terminal moraine), or beneath the ice (ground moraine)
Derived forms
morainal (moˈrainal)
adjective or moˈrainic
Word origin
Fr < dial. morêna < morre, muzzle, akin to Sp morro, snout, headland < VL *murru, echoic word for snout