Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Nearby Words

MARLY

 - 3 dictionary results

marl

1  [mahrl]
Use MARLY in a Sentence
–noun
1. Geology. a friable earthy deposit consisting of clay and calcium carbonate, used esp. as a fertilizer for soils deficient in lime.
2. Archaic. earth.
–verb (used with object)
3. to fertilize with marl.
Origin:
1325–75; ME marle < MD < OF < ML margila, dim. of L marga, said to be < Gaulish

Related forms:
mar⋅la⋅cious  [mahr-ley-shuhs] , marly, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To MARLY
marl   (märl)   
n.  A crumbly mixture of clays, calcium and magnesium carbonates, and remnants of shells that is sometimes found under desert sands and used as fertilizer for lime-deficient soils.
tr.v.   marled, marl·ing, marls
To fertilize with such a mixture.

[Middle English marle, from Old French, from Medieval Latin margila, marla, diminutive of Latin marga, marl, of Celtic origin.]
marl'y adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

marl 
"clayey soil used for fertilizer," 1372, from O.Fr. marle (Fr. marne), from L.L. marglia, dim. of marga, which is said by Pliny to be a Gaulish word, but modern Celt. cognates are considered to be borrowed from Eng. or Fr.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see MARLY on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way