Home » Dictionary » pogonip

pogonip

pogonip
 n.— «The foggy conditions are an aftermath of the heavy snowfall earlier this month. Moisture from the snow evaporates during the day, then crystalizes in the atmosphere when nighttime temperatures drop below freezing, meteorologists said. The effect creates a glistening winter wonderland when the fog freezes on trees, plants and shrubs. Many in northern Nevada refer to it as “pogonip,” a Shoshone Indian word meaning “white death.”» —“Frozen fog continues to blanket northern Nevada” by Sandra Chereb Las Vegas Sun (Nev.) Jan. 18, 2005. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Further reading

Minor Planets (episode #1639)

There are eight major planets, but more than a million minor ones, including asteroids. If you discover one, you get the honor of naming it. The Dictionary of Minor Planet Names includes minor planets named for rock bands, jazz musicians, poets, and...

When I See the Night Sky, I Am Reminded of Homework

One of the celestial bodies listed in The Dictionary of Minor Planet Names(Amazon) is called Sumaura. It’s the name of the oldest private elementary school in Kobe, Japan, and was suggested by the discoverer’s son. This is part of a...