moraine Meaning, Definition & Usage

Mo*raine" noun

Etymology

F. Cf. Prov. G. mur stones broken off, It. mora a heap of stones, hillock, G. mürbe soft, broken up, OHG. muruwi, AS. mearu tender, Gr. to cause to wither, Skr. mla to relax.

Definitions

1. (Geol.) An accumulation of earth and stones carried forward and deposited by a glacier. Lyell. ✍ If the moranie is at the extremity of the glacier it is a terminal moranie; if at the side, a lateral moranie; if parallel to the side on the central portion of the glacier, a medial moranie. See Illust. of Glacier. In the last case it is formed by the union of the lateral moranies of the branches of the glacier. A ground moranie is one beneath the mass of ice.