A U-shaped bend in a river or the crescent-shaped lake that remains when the river cuts through the bend's neck, abandoning the curved section. These features form naturally as meandering rivers change course over time.
Named for its resemblance to the U-shaped collar placed around an ox's neck when yoking it to a plow. The geographical term emerged in American English during westward expansion as settlers encountered these distinctive river features.
The Mississippi River has created hundreds of oxbow lakes along its path - some former riverbeds are now completely isolated crescents of water miles from the current channel! Horseshoe Lake near Memphis was once part of the Mississippi but is now a separate 340-acre lake shaped exactly like its name suggests.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.