open water

Esp.North

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

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1n.

the spring thawing of the ice on rivers and lakes, especially the point in time when the ice breaks into pieces that are flushed away by the current.

See: break-up(meaning 1a))

Quotations

1922

We remained at Mountain House until open water in the spring.

1931

After open water on until early in June, the spring hunt is in full swing on the frontier. . . .

1956

When open-water came, I had had enough of everything.

the period of time taken for the ice in rivers and lakes to soften, crack up, and disappear.

1922

When the open water came, I got one hundred and thirty-two beaver and two otter.

1924

At open water, goods were freighted by large birch-bark canoes. . . .