swale

American  

[sweyl] / sweɪl /

noun

Chiefly Northeastern U.S.

1. a low place in a tract of land, usually moister and often having ranker vegetation than the adjacent higher land.

2. a valleylike intersection of two slopes in a piece of land.

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swale British  

/ sweɪl /

noun

1. 1. a moist depression in a tract of land, usually with rank vegetation

   2. ( as modifier )

      swell and swale topography

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Etymology

Origin of swale

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

Explanation

A swale is a low, damp piece of land. You might want to avoid walking through the swale on your road in your brand new suede shoes. An area of ground marked by raised ridges might also have swales between them. Many swales are natural land formations, but others are made on purpose to direct rainwater, manage runoff, and conserve the soil. These deliberate swales help spread rainwater across a wide section of land, rather than allowing it to flow quickly in one direction. Swale comes from the Scottish swaill, "low place," or the East Anglican swale, "shady place."

Example Sentences

“It took me two months end to end,” Bautista said, including gutters, hardscape, edging and building a trench to the swale in the backyard.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 19, 2023

During this year’s record rainfall, Bautista was delighted to see that the swale he installed handled the overflow water “like a champ.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 19, 2023

But then he makes an unforced error, pulling his approach down the swale to the left of the green.

From The Guardian • Apr. 8, 2022

But a heartbeat later, aided by the wind, his ball keeps rolling, slides off the back of the green and down into a swale.

From Seattle Times • May 20, 2021

He ran up through the swale of seaoats where he’d left the cart but the cart was gone.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

Related Words

• bog
• marshland
• morass
• mud
• quagmire