horst

[ hawrst ]

noun

1. a portion of the earth's crust, bounded on at least two sides by faults, that has risen in relation to adjacent portions.

horst

/ hɔːst /

noun

1. a ridge of land that has been forced upwards between two parallel faults

horst

/ hôrst /

1. A usually elongated block of rock that is bounded by parallel geologic faults along its two longest sides and has a higher elevation than the rock at its sides. Horsts form where rock is being compressed by tectonic forces.

Word History and Origins

Origin of horst¹

1890–95; < German: “heap, cluster,” from Middle High German, Old High German hurst “thicket”

Word History and Origins

Origin of horst¹

C20: from German: thicket

Example Sentences

About twenty horsts were entered, and all along the banks of the Yanyilla and Telowie Creeks, just before the race meeting, you might come across camps such as Ben and I had struck this morning.

From Project Gutenberg

There is no need to labour this question; the horst cannot have existed.

From Project Gutenberg

Other blocks, termed horsts, remained unmoved, the island of Madagascar affording a striking example.

From Project Gutenberg

They were these stealers that affrighted us; I was hard upon them, when they horst their Deer, And I perceive they took me for a keeper.

From Project Gutenberg

The weakness of the theory of the "horst" is manifest, however, in many of its other applications; if not, indeed, in all.

From Project Gutenberg