rendzina

American  

[ren-jee-nuh] / rɛnˈdʒi nə /

noun

1. a dark, rich soil containing limestone or chalk, above a softer, pale, calcareous layer, developed in grassland areas of high to moderate humidity.

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rendzina British  

/ rɛnˈdziːnə /

noun

1. a dark interzonal type of soil found in grassy or formerly grassy areas of moderate rainfall, esp on chalklands

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Etymology

Origin of rendzina

First recorded in 1905–10; from Polish rędzina (the Polish letter ę, representing a nasalized vowel, in this context is pronounced as the consonant n, which the English spelling represents)