DCHP-3

glib

DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)

Spelling variants:
glebe, glibby

adj. — Prince Edward Island, Outdoors

slippery or smooth, usually pertaining to ice; often in the phrase glib ice.

Type: 2. Preservation — The adjective glib is used to describe surfaces that are slippery and smooth (see COD-2, s.v. "glib" (2)). It is used most commonly to refer to ice that resembles glass in appearance (see the 1874 quotation). As noted by DPEIE, glib is likely a preservation from British English. It is the result of a semantic narrowing to the context of ice from the more general meaning of 'pertaining to a smooth and slippery surface or consistency', which dates back to the 16th century (see OED-3, s.v. "glib" (1)).
See COD-2, s.v. "glib" (2), which is marked "Cdn (esp. PEI)" and DPEIE, s.v. "glib".

Quotations

1833
If the ice be smooth and glibby, and if the wind blows across the carriole, it is frequently turned round, bringing the horse up at the same time with it (MACGREGOR, JOHN, British America, 1833, 561).
1874
I passed on, calling at Mr. D's; had my horse shod in order to go down the ice, home. It was well that I did, for, it being so hard a frost last night and no snow about, hardly anywhere, the ice would be like one sheet of glass. Went on to Colonel Duvar's... and then started for Alberton, down the ice and sure enough, the ice was glib. [...] (DYER, ROBERT, Diary, 1859-1883, 1874, January 6)
1980
Skating and hockey were favourite winter pastimes over the years in this area. ... The pond at Bristol was also used and other areas where glib sheets of ice afforded the opportunity for this sport. (Morell: Its History, 1980, 67).
1988
Ice is important stuff to Prince Edward Island. When the province joined Confederation in 1873, Canada made a promise the people over there have never forgotten: "Efficient steam service for the conveyance of mails and passengers, to be established and maintained between the Island and the mainland of the Dominion, Winter and Summer, thus placing the Island in continuous communication with the Intercolonial Railway and the Railway System of the Dominion." But off and on for the past 115 winters, ice has forced Canada to break that promise, and then the briefly marooned islanders have raged against the feds. [...] Black ice has two meanings on P.E.I. On a highway, it's a thin, dangerous coating that's almost invisible. On a lake or pond, it's a layer so thin and transparent it looks dark. Black ice is thinner than glib or glibby ice, which is very hard, smooth and slippery. Glib ice is perfect for skating.
2003
"It's some slippy when there's a skiff of snow on the glib ice." - from the collection of island author and historian David Weale.

References

  • COD-2
  • OED-3
  • DPEIE