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sastrugi

[< Russian zastrugi (pl. of zastruga)]

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

n. pl.

ridges of hard-packed snow, formed by the wind and at times attaining a height of four feet.

Quotations

1851

The snow ridges, called Sastrugi by the Russians, run . . . in parallel lines, waving and winding together. . . .

1853

For this purpose, I fixed upon the softest wreath, or sastrugi, of snow at hand to cut a trench deep enough to hold the two dogs, my companion, and myself. . . .

1939

There is sastrugi, when the snow lies in hard patches furrowed and fluted by the wind, like ribbed sea sand. It was sastrugi that hampered Captain Scott's sledges and contributed to his heroic failure to return from the Pole.

1963

While sledging through the fog, he had noted "hard sastrugi" and "ice rollers". . . .