coomb
1 Americannoun
noun
noun
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a short valley or deep hollow, esp in chalk areas
-
another name for cirque
Etymology
Origin of coomb
Old English cumb (in place names), probably of Celtic origin; compare Old French combe small valley and Welsh cwm valley
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Their torches could be seen winding up the coomb in many lines.
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
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Still some miles away, on the far side of the Westfold Vale, lay a green coomb, a great bay in the mountains, out of which a gorge opened in the hills.
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
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‘Not far ahead now lies Helm’s Dike, an ancient trench and rampart scored across the coomb, two furlongs below Helm’s Gate. There we can turn and give battle.’
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
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Vainly they crawled and clambered about the walls of the coomb, seeking to escape.
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
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Thousands of coombs of barley were sold at 9s. per coomb and of wheat at 12s. per coomb.
From From Crow-Scaring to Westminster; an Autobiography by George Edwards M.P. O.B.E.
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.