loess

 
Pronunciation: /ˈləʊɪs, ləːs/

noun

[mass noun] Geology
  • a loosely compacted yellowish-grey deposit of wind-blown sediment of which extensive deposits occur e.g. in eastern China and the American Midwest.

Derivatives

loessial

Pronunciation: /ləʊˈɛsɪəl, ˈləːsɪəl/
adjective

loessic

Pronunciation: /ləʊˈɛsɪk, ˈləːsɪk/
adjective

Origin:

mid 19th century: from German Löss, from Swiss German lösch 'loose'