esker

[ es-ker ]

noun

, Geology.

1. a serpentine ridge of gravelly and sandy drift, believed to have been formed by streams under or in glacial ice.

esker

/ -kə; ˈɛskə; ˈɛskɑː /

noun

1. a long winding ridge of gravel, sand, etc, originally deposited by a meltwater stream running under a glacier Also calledos

esker

/ ĕs′kər /

1. A long, narrow, steep-sided ridge of coarse sand and gravel deposited by a stream flowing in or under a melting sheet of glacial ice. Eskers range in height from 3 m (9.8 ft) to more than 200 m (656 ft) and in length from less than 100 m (328 ft) to more than 500 km (310 mi).

Word History and Origins

Origin of esker¹

First recorded in 1850–55, esker is from the Irish word eiscir ridge of mountains

Word History and Origins

Origin of esker¹

C19: from Old Irish escir ridge

Example Sentences

Behind the terminal moraines lie wide till plains, in places studded thickly with drumlins, or ridged with an occasional esker.

From Project Gutenberg

And he went to the friars at Esker to take it off of him, and they took it off.

From Project Gutenberg

The Esker friars used to do great cures—Father Callaghan was the best of them.

From Project Gutenberg

I often saw Father Callaghan in Esker and the people brought to him in carts.

From Project Gutenberg

I'll be bound he's on the Esker, looking afther the sheep, poor crathurs, durin' Andy Connor's illness in the small-pock.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bluff
• cliff
• dune
• highland
• hillside
• hilltop
• ridge
• slope