DCHP-1 Online
freeze-up 
n. the freezing up of bodies of water and the topsoil of land in the late fall or early winter; also, the period during which this freezing takes place.
See also: break-up
- 1910 The freeze-up came on when we were at the mouth of Henderson Creek. . . .
- 1933 They had never seen a white woman in the country at freeze-up time. . . .
- 1954 ". . . we must set our time according to my experience and observation of freeze-ups and snow fall. . . ."
- 1966 They go on foot, by canoe before the freeze up, and by other crude means. . . .
- 1910 The freeze-up came on when we were at the mouth of Henderson Creek. . . .