scree
|scree|
/skriː/
loose stones on a slope
Etymology
'scree' originates from Old Norse, specifically the word 'skriða', where 'skriða' meant 'landslide' or 'to slide'.
'scree' changed from Old Norse 'skriða' into northern Middle English or Scots dialect forms (recorded as 'scree') and eventually became the modern English word 'scree'.
Initially it meant 'landslide' or 'the action of sliding', but over time it came to refer specifically to the loose stones or the slope covered by such debris (the current meaning).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a collection of small loose stones or broken rock fragments covering a slope or lying at the base of a cliff (also called 'talus').
The hikers slid down the scree and had to climb carefully to avoid injuring themselves.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/11 21:54