scree

[ skree ]

noun

1. a steep mass of detritus on the side of a mountain.

scree

/ skriː /

noun

1. an accumulation of weathered rock fragments at the foot of a cliff or hillside, often forming a sloping heap Also calledtalus

Word History and Origins

Origin of scree¹

First recorded in 1775–85, scree is from the Old Norse word skritha landslide

Word History and Origins

Origin of scree¹

Old English scrīthan to slip; related to Old Norse skrītha to slide, German schreiten to walk

Example Sentences

Above 13,000 feet, the trail disappears, turning the final push into a steep, tortuous slog up loose scree guided only by cairns — stone towers left by previous climbers to mark the way.

From Los Angeles Times

Up in the mountains, they cling to “pockets in shifting scree, where gravel and rocks form barely the idea of soil,” Chips said.

From Seattle Times

They parked on the far edge of the outcrop, then continued on foot through a sloping scree field of glassy black stone until they reached a view of the mud flats to the east.

From Salon

The first four days featured very limited access points and the entire route required the “North Cascades’ finest bushwhacking,” glacier travel, snowfields, scree, boulder and talus fields, and scrambling.

From Seattle Times

To the southeast he noted an alley filled with scree — it was a timeworn ball court, 350 feet long and 16 feet wide with sloping sides.

From New York Times

Related Words

• rubble