Meltwater
/ˈmɛltˌwɔːtər/noun
Water produced by melting snow or ice.
Did you know?Unlike words with ancient ritual roots, *meltwater* is a straightforward compound, but it names one of nature’s most dramatic transformations: solid matter losing its form and becoming flow.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
meltan
“to dissolve, soften, or be consumed by heat”
Old English
OE
wæter
“water; a liquid body or substance”
Middle English
ME
melten + water
“a compound referring to water formed by melting snow or ice”
19th Century
English
meltwater
“water produced by melting snow, ice, or glaciers”
Modern English
English
meltwater
“water resulting from melting ice or snow”