Swale
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -eɪl
Origin 1
Unknown, from Middle English, "shade", perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse svalr
Full definition of swale
Noun
swale
(plural swales)- A low tract of moist or marshy land.
- A long narrow and shallow trough between ridges on a beach, running parallel to the coastline.
- A shallow troughlike depression that's created to carry water during rainstorms or snow melts; a drainage ditch.
- A shallow, usually grassy depression sloping downward from a plains upland meadow or level vegetated ridgetop.
- Grey Riders|6Jane climbed a few more paces behind him and then peeped over the ridge. Just beyond began a shallow swale that deepened and widened into a valley, and then swung to the left.
- A shallow trough dug into the land on contour (horizontally with no slope). Its purpose being to allow water time to percolate into the soil.
Origin 2
See sweal.
Verb
- Alternative form of sweal (melt and waste away, or singe)