IPA: /ˈfreɪ.zəl/
KK: /fræzəl/
A group of small ice crystals that form in quickly flowing water.
The river was covered with frazil, making it look like a sparkling blanket of ice.
Frazil originates from Middle English 'frazil', which is derived from the Old French 'frasil', meaning 'a thin layer of ice'. The word refers to a type of ice that forms in thin, fragile layers, often seen in water bodies.
Think of the Old French word for a thin layer of ice — that's what 'frazil' refers to, a delicate and fragile form of ice.