brinicle

B3R1I1N1I1C3L1E1
/ˈbɹaɪnɪkəl/

noun

A formation of frozen brine, occurring beneath sea ice and analogous to a stalactite.

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Meanings

nounbrinicle (plural brinicles)

plural brinicles

  1. A formation of frozen brine, occurring beneath sea ice and analogous to a stalactite.

Origin

Blend of brine + icicle, though given that icicle is a pleonastic compound of ice + ickle, brinicle could be surface-analysed as brine + ickle.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

brinicle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brinicle

MLA

“brinicle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brinicle. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “brinicle,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brinicle.

Source: brinicle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.