frazil

[ frey-zuhl, fraz-uhl, fruh-zeel, -zil ]

noun

1. ice crystals formed in turbulent water, as in swift streams or rough seas.

frazil

/ ˈfreɪzɪl /

noun

1. small pieces of ice that form in water moving turbulently enough to prevent the formation of a sheet of ice

Word History and Origins

Origin of frazil¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1885–90; from Canadian French frasil, frazil, fraisil, French fraisil “coal cinders,” Old French faisil

Word History and Origins

Origin of frazil¹

C19: from Canadian French frasil , from French fraisil cinders, ultimately from Latin fax torch

Example Sentences

There’s brash ice, pancake ice, bullet ice, green ice, frazil, nilas, breccia, shuga, slush ice, rotten ice, pressure ice, grease ice, ice dust, shorefast ice, ice flowers, ice haycocks, ice saddles, floes, calf bergs, growlers, and sastrugi, to name just a few.

From Literature

Familiar characters this season include Dorothea Frazil, the newspaper editor played by Abigail Thaw - daughter of the late John Thaw, star of the original “Morse” series.

From Washington Times

Familiar characters this season include Dorothea Frazil, the newspaper editor played by Abigail Thaw — daughter of the late John Thaw, star of the original “Morse” series.

From Seattle Times

Releases above that rate can trigger fish-killing frazil ice.

From Washington Times

You come to me—a mere frazil of what I once was—when there is no hope of ever regaining my youth and self-respect—and tell me—oh, my God!—tell me that I believed you instead of her!

From Project Gutenberg