winterkill ((n.))†

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

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1n.

death (of plants, animals, fish, or birds) brought on by extreme winter conditions.

Quotations

1853

Late sown wheat is more liable to winter-kill and rust.

1958

[Many] . . . streams . . . have been depleted by winter-kill of resident fish.

1964

Windbreaks ... often save crops from winterkill.

2n.

an instance of such killing.

1963

. . . today we no longer see the winter kills that were common on overpopulated ranges.