snow monster

American  

[snoh mon-ster] / ˈsnoʊ ˌmɒn stər /

noun

1. a tall evergreen tree fully encased in multiple layers of snow and ice: exemplified by firs in the alpine area of northern Honshu, Japan, where heavy snowfall and freezing Siberian winds combine to create the phenomenon.

   We skied through trails lined with hundreds of snow monsters, which was the spectacle we had come to see!

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Etymology

Origin of snow monster

First recorded in 1990–95; from Japanese juhyō, literally, “ice tree,” from ju “tree” (from Middle Chinese; compare Mandarin shù, Cantonese syu ) + hyō “tree” (from Middle Chinese; compare Mandarin bīng, Cantonese bing )

Example Sentences

Add blustery male hubris, British classism and a snow monster to the mix and you have producer Ridley Scott's aptly titled television series "The Terror."

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2018

A few minor characters have been dropped: Gone is Marshmallow, the giant snow monster, as well as the pack of menacing wolves — Mr. Grandage has opted for more psychological, and less physical, drama.

From New York Times • Aug. 9, 2017

In a hyped moment for the show, the much-beloved lead character of “Frozen” makes her way to the Season 4 premiere and, with her icy powers, creates a snow monster for protection.

From Washington Post

Troms� will be the host of The Arctic Challenge Oakley Quarterpipe � a ten metre snow monster getting ready for another Gold Watch attempt.

From Time Magazine Archive