swale
[ sweyl ]
/ sweɪl /
noun Chiefly Northeastern U.S.
a low place in a tract of land, usually moister and often having ranker vegetation than the adjacent higher land.
a valleylike intersection of two slopes in a piece of land.
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Origin of swale
1400–50; late Middle English; originally a cool, shady spot, perhaps <Old Norse svalr cool, or svalir a covered porch
Words nearby swale
swain, Swainson's hawk, Swainson's thrush, S.W.A.K., swakara, swale, Swaledale, SWALK, swallet, swallow, swallow dive
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for swale
British Dictionary definitions for swale
swale
/ (sweɪl) /
noun
mainly US
- a moist depression in a tract of land, usually with rank vegetation
- (as modifier)swell and swale topography
Word Origin for swale
C16: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse svala to chill
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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