sastruga

[ sas-truh-guh, sah-struh-, sa-stroo-, sah- ]
/ ˈsæs trə gə, ˈsɑ strə-, sæˈstru-, sɑ- /

noun, plural sas·tru·gi [sas-truh-gee, sah-struh-, sa-stroo-, sah-] /ˈsæs trə gi, ˈsɑ strə-, sæˈstru-, sɑ-/.

Usually sastrugi. ridges of snow formed on a snowfield by the action of the wind.
Also zastruga.

Origin of sastruga

1830–40; < German < dialectal Russian zastrúga, noun derivative of zastrugátʾ, zastrogátʾ to plane, shave down (wood), equivalent to za- perfective v. prefix + strugátʾ, strogátʾ to plane, smooth (wood)

Example sentences from the Web for sastrugi

British Dictionary definitions for sastrugi

sastruga

zastruga

/ (səˈstruːɡə, sæ-) /

noun

one of a series of ridges on snow-covered plains, caused by the action of wind laden with ice particles

Word Origin for sastruga

from Russian zastruga groove, from za by + struga deep place

Scientific definitions for sastrugi

sastrugi
[ să-strōōgə, sästrə- ]

Long, wavelike ridges of snow, formed by the wind and found on the polar plains. Sastrugi are usually up to several meters high and are often parallel to the prevailing wind direction.