seiche

[ seysh ]

noun

1. an occasional and sudden oscillation of the water of a lake, bay, estuary, etc., producing fluctuations in the water level and caused by wind, earthquakes, changes in barometric pressure, etc.

seiche

/ seɪʃ /

noun

1. a periodic oscillation of the surface of an enclosed or semienclosed body of water (lake, inland sea, bay, etc) caused by such phenomena as atmospheric pressure changes, winds, tidal currents, and earthquakes

seiche

/ sāsh,sēch /

1. An oscillating wave in an enclosed body of water. A seiche may have a period from a few minutes to a few hours and is usually a result of seismic or atmospheric disturbances.

Word History and Origins

Origin of seiche¹

Borrowed into English from Franco-Provençal around 1830–40

Word History and Origins

Origin of seiche¹

C19: from Swiss French, first used to describe the rise and fall of water in Lake Geneva; of obscure origin

Example Sentences

The seiche waves were generated by the distant impact in Mexico, which set off seismic waves that shook the Earth and caused water to flow in and out of the river channels at a fast rate, estimated as beginning one hour after the impact.

From Popular-Science

The Vilaine receives the Meu and the Seiche, which are both navigable.

From Project Gutenberg

Notwithstanding the strange, not to say grotesque, appearance of its beak, the Seiche is decidedly an interesting creature.

From Project Gutenberg

A seiche is a standing oscillation of a lake, usually in the direction of the longest diameter, but occasionally transverse.

From Project Gutenberg

Cenéle amus: salanaig buale ⁊ buicc brodnai ⁊ eóin erchoille ⁊ seiche corad.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• tsunami