everglade

[ ev-er-gleyd ]

noun

1. a tract of low, swampy land, especially in southern Florida, characterized by clumps of tall grass and numerous branching waterways.

Word History and Origins

Origin of everglade¹

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25; ever + glade

Example Sentences

The lake feeds estuaries and wetlands to the south, and is home to the Everglade snail kite, an endangered bird of prey.

From Science Magazine

The gators congregate near the Heltons’ house in Everglade City, Fla., after big rains, when the rivers flood the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico with brackish water.

From Los Angeles Times

Before Florida’s development, the bay was reliably hydrated by rain draining gradually across the state from as far as Orlando at the Everglade’s north end.

From Washington Times

"These animals lived in a swampy environment comparable to the modern Everglade system," added Prof Martin.

From BBC

Ukraine has been down this road before, raising the hopes of western investors and commercial interests in the wake of the Orange Revolution, only to slip back into an everglade of corruption and inefficiency.

From BusinessWeek

Related Words

• bog
• marshland
• morass
• mud
• quagmire