box canyon

noun

1. a canyon with steep side walls terminating headwards in a vertical cliff.

box canyon

noun

1. a canyon with vertical or almost vertical walls

Word History and Origins

Origin of box canyon¹

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

Example Sentences

The longer option is the Paria Box, a partially wet hike through a box canyon, requiring stream crossings and hiking shallows for about two miles to the ruins.

From Outside Online

Colorado’s tallest free-falling cascade tumbles 365 feet down from the head of a box canyon near Telluride crowned with a historic power plant.

From Outside Online

This no doubt is to be attributed in large measure to the protecting influence of the box canyon.

From Project Gutenberg

“Tom Chavis came to the box canyon at three yesterday afternoon,” she said firmly.

From Project Gutenberg

He could now see that the cleft did not run to the top of the cliff, but through it, like a tiny box canyon.

From Project Gutenberg

How would you good people like to make up a party to go to Box Canyon sometime in the near future?

From Project Gutenberg

There were deep indentations in the walls, running back to form box canyon, choked with green of cedar and spruce and pinon.

From Project Gutenberg