marl1
/mɑːl
/noun [mass noun]
An unconsolidated sedimentary rock or soil consisting of clay and lime, formerly used as fertilizer: the ancient right to dig marl for fertilizer [count noun]: the road cuttings show red and green marls...
- The covering of the basin floor during periods of enhanced moisture conditions allows the deposition of lacustrine sediments such as marls and clays.
- Basement rocks consist of Tortonian volcanic rocks unconformably overlain by Messinian (uppermost Miocene) marine marls, coral-reef limestones and carbonate breccias.
- The sediments include lacustrine freshwater limestones, silts, marls, occasional sands and local lignite.
verb [with object]
Apply marl to: small fields were being assiduously marled to produce corn crops...
- For example, from 1710 to 1715 John Carr of Massingham ‘marled by agreement 240 acres, and was allowed 8s. an acre in return…’.
- The tenant, moreover, formerly said that he had marled the field thirty years before, but was now positive that this was done in 1809, that is twenty-eight years before the first examination of the field by my friend.
- The luxuriant growth of wheat on the marled field showed an even more striking difference.
Derivatives
marly
/ adjective ...- The unit is composed of rhythmically bedded marls, horizons of laminated organic-rich black shales, rare marly limestones, clastic turbidites, and penecontemporaneous slumps.
- The entire formation is between 12 and 20 m thick, and consists of light grey, marly chalk of varying percentages.
- The genus obviously preferred environments with slightly deeper water, under quiet, marly sedimentation and a deposition of soft, muddy substrates.
Origin
Middle English: from Old French marle, from medieval Latin margila, from Latin marga, of Celtic origin.
Rhymes
marl2
/mɑːl/noun [mass noun, usually as modifier]
A mottled yarn of differently coloured threads, or fabric made from this yarn: blue marl leggings...
- For the most sumptuous layering for relaxing at home, wear slouchy drawstring trousers, cami and an oversized wrap-around cardigan in grey marl cashmere mix.
- That grey marl hoodie, £25, is a man's item.
- Josh pulled the collar of his grey marl coat up to shield his neck from the onslaught of bitter winds.
Origin
Late 19th century: shortening of marbled.