View synonyms for swale

swale

[ sweyl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

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.

swale

/ sweɪl /

1. a moist depression in a tract of land, usually with rank vegetation
2. ( as modifier )
  swell and swale topography

Origin of swale¹

1400–50; late Middle English; originally a cool, shady spot, perhaps < Old Norse svalr cool, or svalir a covered porch

Origin of swale¹

C16: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse svala to chill

Just a caved-in swale of dirt and two rods poking out of the earth.

The murmur of the nearby Swale and the notes of the English thrushes filled the air with soft melody.

As a trailer McFann had few equals, and he knew every swale in the prairie and every nook in the mountains on the reservation.

A turn with the steering-wheel headed the Flier for the opening, and she glided in between the sloping walls of the narrow swale.

By and by we stopped at a place where a feller called Spangler got out and lost himself in a swale.

The lilt of a lark hanging above the swale beside them was not sweeter than the sweetness of his voice.

April 22, 2024steadfast

[sted-fast]

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