marl

¹ American  

[mahrl] / mɑrl /

noun

1. Geology. a friable earthy deposit consisting of clay and calcium carbonate, used especially as a fertilizer for soils deficient in lime.

2. Archaic. earth.

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verb (used with object)

1. to fertilize with marl.

marl ² American  

[mahrl] / mɑrl /

verb (used with object)

Nautical.

1. to wind (a rope) with marline, every turn being secured by a hitch.

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marl ¹ British  

/ mɑːˈleɪʃəs, mɑːl /

noun

1. a fine-grained sedimentary rock consisting of clay minerals, calcite or aragonite, and silt: used as a fertilizer

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verb

1. (tr) to fertilize (land) with marl

marl ² British  

/ mɑːl /

verb

1. nautical to seize (a rope) with marline, using a hitch at each turn

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marl Scientific  

/ märl /

1. A crumbly mixture of clays, calcium and magnesium carbonates, and remnants of shells that forms in both freshwater and marine environments.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• marlacious
  adjective
• marly
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of marl¹

1325–75; Middle English marle < Middle Dutch < Old French < Medieval Latin margila, diminutive of Latin marga, said to be < Gaulish

Origin of marl²

1400–50; late Middle English marlyn to ensnare; akin to Old English mārels cable. See moor ²

Example Sentences

If there is much calcareous matter in clay it is called MARL; but this term has unfortunately been used so vaguely, as often to be very ambiguous.

From The Student's Elements of Geology by Lyell, Charles, Sir

Related Words

• clay
• coast
• dirt
• dust
• gravel
• land
• mud
• sand
• shore
• surface
• terrain
• turf