marsh

[ mahrsh ]
/ mɑrʃ /

noun

a tract of low wet land, often treeless and periodically inundated, generally characterized by a growth of grasses, sedges, cattails, and rushes.

Origin of marsh

before 900; Middle English mershe, Old English mer(i)sc (cognate with German Marsch). See mere2, -ish1; cf. marais, marish, morass

OTHER WORDS FROM marsh

marsh·like, adjective

Definition for marsh (2 of 2)

Marsh
[ mahrsh ]
/ mɑrʃ /

noun

Dame (Edith) Ngai·o [nahy-oh] /ˈnaɪ oʊ/,1899–1982, New Zealand writer of detective novels.
Reginald,1898–1954, U.S. painter and illustrator.

Example sentences from the Web for marsh

British Dictionary definitions for marsh (1 of 2)

marsh
/ (mɑːʃ) /

noun

low poorly drained land that is sometimes flooded and often lies at the edge of lakes, streams, etc Compare swamp (def. 1) Related adjective: paludal

Derived forms of marsh

marshlike, adjective

Word Origin for marsh

Old English merisc; related to German Marsch, Dutch marsk; related to mere ²

British Dictionary definitions for marsh (2 of 2)

Marsh
/ (mɑːʃ) /

noun

Dame (Edith) Ngaio (ˈnaɪəʊ). 1899–1981, New Zealand crime writer, living in Britain (from 1928). Her many detective novels include Final Curtain (1947) and Last Ditch (1977)
Rodney (William). born 1947, Australian cricketer: a wicketkeeper, he took 355 dismissals in 96 test matches (1970–84)

Scientific definitions for marsh

marsh
[ märsh ]

An area of low-lying wetland in which the level of water is generally shallow and often fluctuating. The water may be either standing or slow-moving. The water in a marsh is also more or less neutral or alkaline, in contrast to the water in a bog, which is acidic. The environment of a marsh is in general well-oxygenated and nutrient-rich and allows a great variety of organisms to flourish. In contrast to a swamp, in which there is an abundance of woody plants, the plants in a marsh are mostly herbaceous. Reeds and rushes dominate the vegetation of marshes. See also salt marsh.