pingo

[ ping-goh ]

noun

, Geology.

, plural pin·gos.

1. a hill of soil-covered ice pushed up by hydrostatic pressure in an area of permafrost.
2. a hill of similar origin remaining after the melting of permafrost.

pingo

/ ˈpɪŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. a mound of earth or gravel formed through pressure from a layer of water trapped between newly frozen ice and underlying permafrost in Arctic regions

pingo

/ pĭng′gō /

, Plural pingos

1. A large mound or dome of ice covered with soil. Pingos are about 30 to 50 m (98 to 164 ft) high and up to 400 m (1,312 ft) in diameter and are found in Arctic regions. They are believed to form in basins (such as drained lake beds) as a result of the freezing and upward expansion of water held in subsurface soil, which initiates the doming, as well as by the rising and freezing of water trapped beneath or within the permafrost, as a result of hydrostatic pressure.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pingo¹

First recorded in 1925–30, pingo is from the Inuit word pinguq

Word History and Origins

Origin of pingo¹

C20: from Inuktitut

Example Sentences

Si l narra algn lance en que un ginete bien montado evit un sablazo o una lanzada, ladeando el caballo, dice que soslay el pingo.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a picture of a beautiful lady using Pingo, her face expressing rapture.

From Project Gutenberg

But still, if that miserable Pingo or Ponceau—I never know what his name is—was only agreeable.

From Project Gutenberg

But the man of course did not move or stand up with his pingo.

From Project Gutenberg