DCHP-2

landwash land-wash, lamwash, lan'awash DCHP-2 (April 2016)

• n. — Newfoundland

  the area of the ocean shore which is covered and uncovered by the tides.

  Type: 5. Frequency — Landwash is a Newfoundland term that primarily refers to the area of shore that is washed by the tide, but may also refer to the shore of a pond, lake or river (DNE, s.v. "landwash"). OED-3 (s.v. "land"), marks landwash as "orig. and chiefly N. Amer.", though internet search results show that the term is most frequent in Canada (see Chart 1) and almost exclusive to Newfoundland and Labrador (see Chart 2). Clarke (2010b: 110) notes that because the lifestyle of the outport communities has experienced fairly little change in the past few centuries until recently, many words "relating to the fishery and other activities has remained fairly stable", including those documented by explorer George Cartwright (see the 1770 quotation). It is most likely a preservation in Newfoundland English.
  See also DNE, s.v. "landwash", COD-2, s.v. "landwash", which is marked "Cdn (Nfld)".

  • In other locations often called tidal area.