red clay

noun

, Geology.

1. a brown to red, widely distributed deep-sea deposit consisting chiefly of microscopic particles and tinted red by iron oxides and manganese.

Other Words From

• red-clay adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of red clay¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

For Nadal, the red clay of the French Open, his favored killing ground, is the perfect place to die.

From Salon

When Zverev broke Jarry to convert his fourth match point, he dropped to his knees on the red clay court, leaned back and let out a scream.

From Seattle Times

The red clay from which he had fashioned pots and dishes inspired him to try his hand at making something just for its own sake, something beautiful.

From Literature

Impossible to know who will play on the red clay at Roland Garros until mid-June, because qualifying is based on the rankings after the French Open.

From Seattle Times

Cobblestone streets and mom-and-pop stores speckle the downtown of this city of 18,000 that is caked in red clay soil and nestled among rolling hills.

From New York Times