sastruga

[ sas-truh-guh, sah-struh-, sa-stroo-, sah- ]

noun,plural sas·tru·gi

[sas-truh-gee, sah-struh-, sa-stroo-, sah-]. /ˈsæs trə gi, ˈsɑ strə-, sæˈstru-, sɑ-/.

Usually sastrugi. ridges of snow formed on a snowfield by the action of the wind.

Origin of sastruga

1830–40; <German <dialectal Russian zastrúga, noun derivative of zastrugátʾ, zastrogátʾ to plane, shave down (wood), equivalent to za- perfective v. prefix + strugátʾ, strogátʾ to plane, smooth (wood)

Also zastruga.

Words Nearby sastruga

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sastruga in a sentence

As the sledge strikes each sastruga, it skids northwards along it to the discomfort of the wheelers and the disgust of the leader.
The Home of the Blizzard | Douglas Mawson
One walks into a deep trench or a sastruga two feet high without noticing it.
The Home of the Blizzard | Douglas Mawson
The sail was up and, while braking the load upwind, I slipped and fell, allowing the sledge to collide with a large sastruga.
The Home of the Blizzard | Douglas Mawson
Each of us took it in turn to run ahead, jumping from one sastruga to another.
The Home of the Blizzard | Douglas Mawson
A fine example of a typical old sastruga was passed on the way.
The Home of the Blizzard | Douglas Mawson

British Dictionary definitions for sastruga

sastruga

zastruga

/ (səˈstruːɡə, sæ-) /

noun

one of a series of ridges on snow-covered plains, caused by the action of wind laden with ice particles

Origin of sastruga

from Russian zastruga groove, from za by + struga deep place

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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