nunatak

[ nuhn-uh-tak ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

nunatak

/ ˈnʌnəˌtæk /

an isolated mountain peak projecting through the surface of surrounding glacial ice and supporting a distinct fauna and flora after recession of the ice

Origin of nunatak¹

1875–80; < Inuit (West Greenlandic) nunataq

Origin of nunatak¹

C19: via Danish from Inuktitut

To the north-west, behind us, a projecting ridge of rock—Madigan Nunatak—came into sight.

To increase my excitement Madigan Nunatak came into view for a time in the clear, evening light.

A small nunatak slanted like a steel-blue shadow on the side of a white peak to the south-west.

Delayed by these and by unfavourable weather, they did not reach Madigan Nunatak until the evening of November 20.

On November 21 the party commenced the return journey, moving directly towards Madigan Nunatak to the south-west.

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