diluvium

American  

[dih-loo-vee-uhm] / dɪˈlu vi əm /

Or diluvion

noun

Geology Now Rare.

plural

diluvia, diluviums

1. a coarse surficial deposit formerly attributed to a general deluge but now regarded as glacial drift.

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diluvium British  

/ daɪˈluːvɪəm, dɪ- /

noun

1. geology a former name for glacial drift See drift

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Etymology

Origin of diluvium

1810–20; < Latin dīluvium flood; deluge

Example Sentences

The author concludes that he has established generally the curious fact, that, in formations of all ages, from the carboniferous limestone to the diluvium, the faeces of terrestrial and aquatic carnivorous animals have been preserved; and proposes to include them all under the generic name of Coprolite.”

From Scientific American

The first bone traces of human beings range back to an epoch posterior to the monstrous quadrupeds entombed in the diluvium.

From Project Gutenberg

Elk, elk, n. the largest species of deer, found in the north of Europe and in North America.—Irish elk, a giant deer now extinct, known from the remains found in the Pleistocene diluvium, esp. of Ireland.

From Project Gutenberg

The quarternary formation, aluvium and diluvium, covers the greater portion of the Pacific coast from the foot of the mountains to the sea.

From Project Gutenberg

The whole area of upland soil, which rests as a mantle over the rocks, is a diluvium, which must, we think, be referred to an early period of diluvial action.

From Project Gutenberg