DCHP-1 Online

break up

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

  See also: break v. (def. 1)  

  • 1715  (1965)  The River did break up on the Seventh of May & ye waters forc'd the River to break to before wee had any thaw. . . .
  • 1807  (1809)  It is brought to Quebec and Montreal as soon as the ice breaks up, and the navigation opens in the river [St. Lawrence].
  • 1965  The KFC . . . will be unable to land once the ice begins to break up.

• 2 of roads, become muddy and often impassable as a result of the spring thaw.

  • 1812  From the thaws in the days and frosts in the nights, it is probable that we shall have a month's communication with the country before the breaking up of the winter roads.
  • 1883  They appear to be laying in a good supply before the roads break up.
  • 1912  The trip alluded to . . . was one . . . taken when the roads were breaking up. . . .