shelf ice

noun

1. ice forming part of or broken from an ice shelf.

shelf ice

noun

1. See ice shelf
   a less common term for ice shelf

shelf ice

1. An extension of glacial ice into coastal waters that is in contact with the bottom near the shore but not toward the outer edge of the shelf.

Word History and Origins

Origin of shelf ice¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Icebergs are huge, thick hunks of ice that break off glaciers or shelf ice and float to sea.

From Science News For Students

At a distance, large bergs would be undistinguishable from shelf-ice, appearances of which were reported above.

From Project Gutenberg

Wild, Harrison and Hoadley went to examine the shelf-ice with a view to its suitability for a wintering station.

From Project Gutenberg

In all, thirty-six tons of stores were raised on to the shelf-ice, one hundred feet above sea-level, in four days.

From Project Gutenberg

The shelf-ice is without doubt afloat, if the presence of sea-water and diatomaceous stains on the ice is of any account.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus the northern face crumbles down into brash or floats away as part of a berg severed from the main body of the shelf-ice.

From Project Gutenberg