What does snowslip mean?
Snowslip is a chiefly British noun for a mass of snow that breaks loose and slides down a slope, especially in mountainous terrain. It is a specific kind of avalanche, with the compound form making the material and movement particularly clear: snow is what moves, and slip describes its sudden downward motion. Snowslips are countable, so writers use forms such as “a snowslip,” “several snowslips,” and “the risk of snowslips.” The word appears in mountain-safety guidance, weather reports, and accounts of journeys through snowy regions. Although it can evoke any sudden cascading event in literary writing, its standard usage is literal. For many contemporary speakers, especially those accustomed to North American English, snowslide is the more familiar term. Snowslip nevertheless remains valuable because it distinguishes the sliding mass itself with characteristic clarity and carries a distinctly British flavour without being archaic.
nounA mass of snow that breaks loose and slides down a slope, especially a mountainside; an avalanche of snow.
- A mass of snow that breaks loose and slides down a slope, especially a mountainside.
"Thaw increased the risk of snowslips on the exposed northern slopes."
"A snowslip swept across the mountain pass and buried the trail."
"Forecasters warned that rapid warming could produce snowslips on steep slopes."
The regular plural takes the ordinary plural suffix; the older open form “snow slips” also occurs.
"Several snowslips blocked the upper trail."
A snowslip is an avalanche made only of snow—“slip” names the instant the slope gives way.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does snowslip come from?
Snowslip is an English compound formed from “snow” and “slip.” “Snow” continues Old English snaw, an inherited Germanic word, while “slip” is related to Old English slippan, meaning to slip or slide suddenly. The later forms “snowy” and “snowless” continue the first root, and “slipstream” and “slipway” preserve the second.
How snowslip is actually used
The noun is chiefly British and is typically used in literal mountain, weather, and travel contexts. “A snowslip” is standard, while “snow slips” occurs chiefly in the older or more open spelling.
Easily confused with snowslip
Both can describe a mass of snow sliding down a slope; snowslip is chiefly British, while snowslide is more common in North American usage.