ice jam

noun

an obstruction of broken river ice in a narrow part of a channel.
a mass of lake or sea ice broken and piled up against the shore by wind pressure.

Origin of ice jam

First recorded in 1840–50

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

With his mother he was trapped on a floe when the ice-jam broke.
Brave Deeds of Union Soldiers
Samuel Scoville
She had stayed on the beach making sketches of the ice-jam on the lake front.
The Cruise of the O Moo
Roy J. Snell
We have been inundated by the river in consequence of what is called here an ice-jam.
Forest Life and Forest Trees: comprising winter camp-life among the loggers, and wild-wood adventure.
John S. Springer
She didn't catch the wind o' that, lad, till we were navigating our raft downstream agen the ice-jam.
Heralds of Empire
Agnes C. Laut