swale

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Possibly of Middle English, shade, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse svalr

[edit] Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪl

[edit] Noun

swale (plural swales)

1. A low tract of moist or marshy land.
2. A long narrow and shallow trough between ridges on a beach, running parallel to the coastline.
3. A shallow troughlike depression that's created to carry water during rainstorms or snow melts; a drainage ditch.
4. A shallow, usually grassy depression sloping downward from a plains upland meadow or level vegetated ridgetop.
5. A shallow trough dug into the land on contour (horizontally with no slope). Its purpose being to allow water time to percolate into the soil.

[edit] Translations