Adjacent Words

Marl definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

M`ARL, n. [L. marga.] A species of calcarious earth, of different composition, being united with clay or fuller's earth. In a crude state, it effervesces with acids. It is found loose and friable, or more or less indurated. It possesses fertilizing properties and is much used for manure.
Marl is composed of carbonate of lime and clay in various proportions.
M`ARL, v.t. To overspread or manure with marl.
1. To fasten with marline.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a loose and crumbling earthy deposit consisting mainly of calcite or dolomite; used as a fertilizer for soils deficient in lime

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French marle, from Medieval Latin margila, diminutive of Latin marga marl, from Gaulish Date: 14th century a loose or crumbling earthy deposit (as of sand, silt, or clay) that contains a substantial amount of calcium carbonate • marly adjective

Merriam Webster's

geographical name city W Germany in the Ruhr population 91,864

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. & v. --n. soil consisting of clay and lime, with fertilizing properties. --v.tr. apply marl to (the ground). Derivatives: marly adj. Etymology: ME f. OF marle f. med.L margila f. L marga 2. n. 1 a mottled yarn of differently coloured threads. 2 the fabric made from this. Etymology: shortening of marbled: see MARBLE

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Marl Marl, v. t. [See Marline.] (Naut.) To cover, as part of a rope, with marline, marking a pecular hitch at each turn to prevent unwinding. Marling spike. (Naut.) See under Marline.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Marl Marl, n. [OF. marle, F. marne, LL. margila, dim. of L. marga marl. Originally a Celtic word, according to Pliny, xvii.
7: ``Quod genus terr[ae] Galli et Britanni margam vocant.'' [root]274.] A mixed earthy substance, consisting of carbonate of lime, clay, and sand, in very varivble proportions, and accordingly designated as calcareous, clayey, or sandy. See Greensand.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Marl Marl, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Marled; p. pr. & vb. n. Marling.] [Cf. F. marner. See Marl, n.] To overspread or manure with marl; as, to marl a field.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Greensand Green"sand` (-s?nd`), n. (Geol.) A variety of sandstone, usually imperfectly consolidated, consisting largely of glauconite, a silicate of iron and potash of a green color, mixed with sand and a trace of phosphate of lime. Note: [hand]Greensand is often called marl, because it is a useful fertilizer. The greensand beds of the American Cretaceous belong mostly to the Upper Cretaceous.