Cirque
/sɜːrk/noun
A bowl-shaped mountain amphitheater carved by glacial erosion.
Did you know?Cirque comes through French from Latin circus, the same root behind “circle” and “circus,” because these glacier hollows are literally ring-shaped basins.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
circus
“a ring, circle, or racecourse”
Late Latin
Latin
circus
“a circular arena or ring-shaped place”
Old French
Old French
cirque
“a ring, circle, or amphitheater-like hollow”
18th Century
English
cirque
“a mountain basin or amphitheater-shaped hollow, especially one formed by glaciers”