paleocrystic

adjective

pa·​leo·​crys·​tic

: being, relating to, or characterized by ice that has had prolonged existence

paleocrystic sea

paleocrystic ice is several years old; some of it may be dozens of years old

—Vilhjalmur Stefansson

Word History

Etymology

pale- + Greek krystallos + English -ic

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!