DCHP-1 Online

break

• 1 v. of (ice in) rivers and lakes, melt as a result of the spring thaw.

  See also: break up (def. 1)  

  • 1790  (1964)  Here they begin to build their canoes, which are generally compleated very soon after the river ice breaks.
  • 1910  The Teelee [River] broke.

• 2a v. move ahead of a dog team, a vehicle, or a party of people, making a way through heavy snow, often on snowshoes.

  See also: break trail  

  • c1902  A man who is breaking the way must keep his eyes on the ground... .
  • 1852  Mr. T . . . walked ahead of us, in order to break a track through the untrodden snow.
  • 1921  There come days . . . when every foot of the way must be broken anew.

• 2b v. make a way through heavy snow on a road. Also break open.

  • 1882  He was five days from Humbolt and had to break the road to Duck Lake.
  • 1913  (1917)  . . . we hoped that the Government road would be broken enough to permit of better speed.
  • 1959  Farmers had to break open their own road in winter and keep them in repair in summer.