marl
1[ mahrl ]
/ mɑrl /
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noun
Geology. a friable earthy deposit consisting of clay and calcium carbonate, used especially as a fertilizer for soils deficient in lime.
Archaic. earth.
verb (used with object)
to fertilize with marl.
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Origin of marl
11325–75; Middle English marle<Middle Dutch <Old French <Medieval Latin margila, diminutive of Latin marga, said to be <Gaulish
OTHER WORDS FROM marl
mar·la·cious [mahr-ley-shuhs], /mɑrˈleɪ ʃəs/, marly, adjectiveOther definitions for marl (2 of 2)
marl2
[ mahrl ]
/ mɑrl /
verb (used with object) Nautical.
to wind (a rope) with marline, every turn being secured by a hitch.
Origin of marl
2Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use marl in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for marl (1 of 2)
marl1
/ (mɑːl) /
noun
a fine-grained sedimentary rock consisting of clay minerals, calcite or aragonite, and silt: used as a fertilizer
verb
(tr) to fertilize (land) with marl
Derived forms of marl
marlacious (mɑːˈleɪʃəs) or marly, adjectiveWord Origin for marl
C14: via Old French, from Late Latin margila, diminutive of Latin marga
British Dictionary definitions for marl (2 of 2)
marl2
/ (mɑːl) /
verb
nautical to seize (a rope) with marline, using a hitch at each turn
Word Origin for marl
C15 marlyn to bind; related to Dutch marlen to tie, Old English mārels cable
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Scientific definitions for marl
marl
[ märl ]
A crumbly mixture of clays, calcium and magnesium carbonates, and remnants of shells that forms in both freshwater and marine environments.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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