snow crust

American  

noun

1. a relatively hard, upper layer or film of ice or compacted snow on a snow surface.

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Etymology

Origin of snow crust

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

While the numbers are good now, the South Basin numbers tend to go up in January, she said, particularly if the North Basin freezes solid or the food becomes covered by a hard snow crust.

From Seattle Times

Evidently the man's directions were to show off the horse's gait to the best advantage; and I know that the speed of that frail sleigh upon the icy snow crust became so terrific that I had to grip the sash of the isvoshik in front of me to stay in the sleigh at all.

From Project Gutenberg

Tracks as large as a cow, great rents in the snow crust, through which the brown earth showed in spots; these were some of the traces.

From Project Gutenberg

The snow crust, which walls the quail in a living tomb, makes a royal banqueting hall for the pestiferous field mice, where they feast and revel in plenty, secure from all their enemies, feathered or furred.

From Project Gutenberg

The snow crust, even into the woods, was trampled down.

From Project Gutenberg