fall linen.
/ˈfɔːl lʌɪn/, U.S. /ˈfɔl ˌlaɪn/, /ˈfɑl ˌlaɪn/ 1. A narrow zone that marks the geological boundary between an upland region and a plain, distinguished by the occurrence of waterfalls and rapids where rivers and streams cross it; (spec.) the zone demarcating the Piedmont from the Atlantic coastal plain in the eastern United States.
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the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > system > [noun] > natural drainage > specific river profile > fall line
fall line1882
fall zone1911
the world > the earth > land > landscape > high land > mountain > [noun] > range > area at foot of > line demarcating
fall line1882
the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > system > [noun] > natural drainage > specific river profile > fall line > specifically in U.S.A.
fall line1882
1882 Nation (N.Y.) 13 July 33/1 It is here, at the ‘fall-line’, that the most available water-powers are to be found.
1955 Sci. Amer. Mar. 82/2 In the Atlantic terrace the thin edge of the sedimentary wedge reaches inland to the ‘fall line’ (a zone of waterfalls) on the eastern side of the Appalachian Mountains.
1968 R. W. Fairbridge Encycl. Geomorphol. 344/1 The term ‘fall line’ or ‘fall zone’..has been adopted in geomorphology as a general term to identify the boundary between a more resistant crystalline upland or plateau province and a coastal plain of weak rocks.
2007 J. Hairr N. Carolina Rivers 9 The Coastal Plain Province covers the eastern third of the state from the Atlantic Ocean west to the Fall Line.
2. Skiing. The line down a slope which is most directly downhill.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > winter sports > skiing > [noun] > ski slope or run
piste1917
nursery slope1924
ski run1924
ski slope1934
schuss1937
fall line1938
bunny slope1954
run1956
black diamond1969
traverse1969
slope1972
ski ramp1973
dry slope1974
motorway1979
off-piste1986
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > winter sports > skiing > [noun] > ski slope or run > specific part
fall line1938
run-out1943
bump1953
mogul1953
1938 Centralia (Washington) Daily Chron. 9 Mar. 4/6 You leaned past what the experts call the ‘fall line’. That would be the center of balance.
1945 N.Y. Times 21 Jan. s3/2 Spills were common, especially in the ‘straight-down’ race, where the athletes tried to cut the fall-line close to make up precious time.
2007 Ski Mar. 102/1 (caption) Relax and flatten your skis. They'll naturally seek the fall line.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1882