Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A peculiar appearance in the air caused by the reflection of light from the surface of an ice-pack or floating mass of ice, or from land covered with snow. By it the presence of ice may often be recognized at a distance of 20 miles or more.
Etymologies
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Examples
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On the morning of the 17th we saw ice-blink on the starboard bow, and about noon we were close to the pack itself; it was here quite thick, and raised by pressure, so that an attempt to get through it was out of the question.
The South Pole; an account of the Norwegian antarctic expedition in the 'Fram', 1910 to 1912 2003
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By degrees the ice-blink above the Barrier became lighter and lighter, and before very long we were so close under it that we only just had room to go about.
The South Pole; an account of the Norwegian antarctic expedition in the 'Fram', 1910 to 1912 2003
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In the clear sky to the north a streak of lucid white light is the reflection from an icy surface; that is, “ice-blink,” in the language of these seas.
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It has happened at night that I have seen the ice-blink as far off as eight miles, and then there is nothing to fear; but sometimes in the middle of the day we have sailed close to icebergs that have only been seen a few minutes before we were right on them.
The South Pole; an account of the Norwegian antarctic expedition in the 'Fram', 1910 to 1912 2003
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On the afternoon of the 11th we had strong ice-blink ahead, by which is meant the luminous stripe that is seen above a considerable accumulation of ice; the nearest thing one can compare it to is the glare that is always seen over a great city on approaching it at night.
The South Pole; an account of the Norwegian antarctic expedition in the 'Fram', 1910 to 1912 2003
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Generally speaking, a dark black sky means open water, and this is known as an open-water sky; high lights in the sky mean ice, and this is known as ice-blink.
The Worst Journey in the World Antarctic 1910-1913 Apsley Cherry-Garrard 1922
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Behind it was a continuous ice-blink and on our left, to the north, a deep blue "water sky."
The Home of the Blizzard Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 Douglas Mawson 1920
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P.M. the ship was steaming west in clear water, a few bergs being in sight and a marked ice-blink to the south.
The Home of the Blizzard Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 Douglas Mawson 1920
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On the afternoon of the 11th we had strong ice-blink ahead, by which is meant the luminous stripe that is seen above a considerable accumulation of ice; the nearest thing one can compare it to is the glare that is always seen over
The South Pole; an account of the Norwegian Antarctic expedition in the "Fram," 1910-12 — Volume 1 and Volume 2 Roald Amundsen 1900
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On the morning of the 17th we saw ice-blink on the starboard bow, and about noon we were close to the pack itself; it was here quite thick, and raised by pressure, so that an attempt to get through it was out of the question.
The South Pole; an account of the Norwegian Antarctic expedition in the "Fram," 1910-12 — Volume 1 and Volume 2 Roald Amundsen 1900
qms commented on the word ice-blink
After months in the arctic I think
My friends will recoil from my stink
And read in my stare
The stain of that glare,
The infamous mad’ning ice-blink.
November 15, 2017