frazil

Variant of frazil (ice)

noun

tiny, round or pointed ice crystals formed in supercooled waters and prevented from coagulating by turbulence

Origin: CdnFr frasil < Fr fraisil, charcoal cinders, altered (prob. after fraiser, to ruffle) < OFr faisil < VL *facīlis < L fax (gen. facis), a torch < IE base *ĝhwok-, to gleam, glow

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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