couloir

noun

cou·loir kül-ˈwär How to pronounce couloir (audio)

: a steep mountainside gorge

Did you know?

Couloir entered English in the 19th century from French, where it literally meant "passage." The term was originally applied specifically to steep gorges in the Alps and later to similar gorges elsewhere, especially ones used by skiers as passages down mountains. Because of their narrowness and steepness, couloirs can provide even expert skiers with some of the most challenging terrain they are likely to encounter-and they can be dangerous. In fact, journalist Jim Kochevar, writing of his experiences at the Telluride ski area for the Chicago Tribune in October 1997, declared (tongue in cheek) that "Couloir is French for 'cold, narrow place to die.'"

Example Sentences

at one point the steep, ice-encrusted walls of the couloir are no more than 50 feet apart

Recent Examples on the Web Chin and Monod bootpack up a perfect couloir on Surprise Pass, Alberta.

Grayson Schaffer, Outside Online, 14 May 2015 The search team located the bodies approximately 300 meters below the Joffre Peak couloir shortly after the search began, Sergeant Rob Knapton said.

The Editors, Outside Online, 13 Jan. 2015 Working in the dark, rescue teams attempted to reach the pair from below, traversing the upper Reid Glacier and climbing up the couloir, but were met with extremely challenging conditions.

oregonlive, 8 Mar. 2022 The couloir is a steep and narrow 1,600-foot tongue of snow splitting the rocky north face of the mountain.

New York Times, 1 Feb. 2022 Sinking up to my armpits in a pocket of facets midway up a couloir only moments after digging a pit took spatial variability beyond the conceptual.

Marc Peruzzi, Outside Online, 26 Feb. 2021 Matthew Brien, 33, of Jackson, Wyoming was leading a group through a narrow couloir known as the Broken Thumb on Monday when an avalanche broke off above him, park officials said.

CBS News, 23 Feb. 2021 Brien had entered the narrow area of the couloir above the rappels when the avalanche occurred, the park service said.

Joe Sutton, CNN, 23 Feb. 2021 The couloir is a technical route through a steep, narrow gully of ice and snow on the northwest face of Bear Mountain.

Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Feb. 2021 See More

单词	couloirs
释义	couloir noun cou·loir kül-ˈwär : a steep mountainside gorge Did you know? Couloir entered English in the 19th century from French, where it literally meant "passage." The term was originally applied specifically to steep gorges in the Alps and later to similar gorges elsewhere, especially ones used by skiers as passages down mountains. Because of their narrowness and steepness, couloirs can provide even expert skiers with some of the most challenging terrain they are likely to encounter-and they can be dangerous. In fact, journalist Jim Kochevar, writing of his experiences at the Telluride ski area for the Chicago Tribune in October 1997, declared (tongue in cheek) that "Couloir is French for 'cold, narrow place to die.'" Synonyms canyon cañon col defile flume gap gill [British] gorge gulch gulf kloof [South African] linn [chiefly Scottish] notch pass ravine saddle See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences at one point the steep, ice-encrusted walls of the couloir are no more than 50 feet apart Recent Examples on the Web Chin and Monod bootpack up a perfect couloir on Surprise Pass, Alberta. Grayson Schaffer, Outside Online, 14 May 2015 The search team located the bodies approximately 300 meters below the Joffre Peak couloir shortly after the search began, Sergeant Rob Knapton said. The Editors, Outside Online, 13 Jan. 2015 Working in the dark, rescue teams attempted to reach the pair from below, traversing the upper Reid Glacier and climbing up the couloir, but were met with extremely challenging conditions. oregonlive, 8 Mar. 2022 The couloir is a steep and narrow 1,600-foot tongue of snow splitting the rocky north face of the mountain. New York Times, 1 Feb. 2022 Sinking up to my armpits in a pocket of facets midway up a couloir only moments after digging a pit took spatial variability beyond the conceptual. Marc Peruzzi, Outside Online, 26 Feb. 2021 Matthew Brien, 33, of Jackson, Wyoming was leading a group through a narrow couloir known as the Broken Thumb on Monday when an avalanche broke off above him, park officials said. CBS News, 23 Feb. 2021 Brien had entered the narrow area of the couloir above the rappels when the avalanche occurred, the park service said. Joe Sutton, CNN, 23 Feb. 2021 The couloir is a technical route through a steep, narrow gully of ice and snow on the northwest face of Bear Mountain. Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Feb. 2021 See More Word History Etymology French, literally, passage, from couler First Known Use 1822, in the meaning defined above couloirs noun plural of couloir as in canyons a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage at one point the steep, ice-encrusted walls of the couloir are no more than 50 feet apart Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance canyons ravines gorges valleys gulches saddles cols gaps passes kloofs cirques flumes abysses defiles linns crevasses crevices notches gills clefts fissures glens chasms gulfs trenches cañons basins gullies combes hollows vales coulees gutters dales dells gulleys kettles arroyos troughs coombes wadis coombs cwms barrancas washes floodplains draws nullahs barrancos shut-ins
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couloir

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun