Colluvies

/kəˈluːviːz/ noun

Definition

Loose material and debris that accumulates at the base of cliffs, mountains, or slopes due to weathering and gravity; rock fragments and soil.

Etymology

From Latin 'colluvies,' from 'col-' (together) and 'luere' (to wash), originally referring to material washed or carried together by water and gravity.

Kelly Says

Colluvies is the fancy geological term for the pile of junk at the bottom of a cliff—rocks, dirt, and broken pieces that all slid down together due to rain, wind, and gravity!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.