duricrust

[ door-i-kruhst, dyoor- ]

noun

1. a hard crust that forms on or in soil in semiarid climates owing to cementation of soil particles. Compare caliche, hardpan ( defs 1, 2 ).

duricrust

/ ˈdjʊərɪˌkrʌst /

noun

1. another name for caliche

Word History and Origins

Origin of duricrust¹

< Latin dūr ( us ) hard + -i- + crust