graupel
/ˈɡraʊp(ə)l
/noun [mass noun]
Small particles of snow with a fragile crust of ice; soft hail.Notice for this wind field that graupel falls rapidly to the surface and drifts only a short distance downwind....
- When this process continues so that the shape of the original snow crystal is no longer identifiable, the resulting crystal is referred to as graupel.
- In this work the growth, motion and charging of graupel particles are simulated by computer.
Origin
Late 19th century: German Graupel, back-formation from graupeln 'to hail with soft hailstones', from Graupe 'cereal grain'.