different between topsoil vs marl

English

Etymology

top +? soil

Noun

topsoil (countable and uncountable, plural topsoils)

1. The most fertile soil, easiest to start new plants in.

   Little grew on the farm, after the floods from the hurricane washed away the topsoil.

Translations

Anagrams

• Politos, oil spot, poloist

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: mäl, IPA^(key): /m??l/
• (General American) enPR: märl, IPA^(key): /m??l/
• Rhymes: -??(?)l

Etymology 1

From Middle English marle, from Old French marle, from Late Latin marglia, diminutive of marga (“marl”).

Alternative forms

• marle

Noun

marl (countable and uncountable, plural marls)

1. A mixed earthy substance, consisting of carbonate of lime, clay, and possibly sand, in very variable proportions, and accordingly designated as calcareous, clayey, or sandy.
   • 1975, Saul Bellow, Humboldt's Gift [Avon ed., 1976, p. 231]:

     The surroundings were unearthly. It was not a fish setting—only bare rock, no trees, pungent sagebrush, and marl dust floating when a truck passed.

   Synonym: marlstone

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• greensand

Verb

marl (third-person singular simple present marls, present participle marling, simple past and past participle marled)

1. (transitive) To cover with the earthy substance called marl.

Etymology 2

Verb

marl (third-person singular simple present marls, present participle marling, simple past and past participle marled)

1. (nautical) To cover, as part of a rope, with marline, marking a peculiar hitch at each turn to prevent unwinding.

   Synonym: marline

Translations

References

Anagrams

• RAML