hanging wall


noun

Mining. the underside of the wall rock overlying a vein or bed of ore. Compare footwall(def 1).
Geology. a mass of rock overhanging a fault plane.

Origin of hanging wall

First recorded in 1770–80

Example sentences from the Web for hanging wall

British Dictionary definitions for hanging wall

hanging wall

noun

the rocks on the upper side of an inclined fault plane or mineral vein Compare footwall

Scientific definitions for hanging wall

hanging wall

The block of rock lying above an inclined geologic fault plane. See more at fault. Compare footwall.