DCHP-2

glib ice Prince Edward Island DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

• n.

  smooth, translucent and slippery ice.

  Type: 1. Origin — The term glib ice is used to refer to ice that is slippery or smooth. It likely derives from the British English term glib, which means 'smooth and slippery in surface or consistency' (see glib). The semantic narrowing of the term glib to the context of ice coincides with Canada's geographical location and weather conditions, particularly the provinces of Eastern Canada (see 1988 quotation); accordingly, the term is marked as a term used especially in Prince Edward Island (see COD-2, s.v. "glib" (2)).
  The variable glib ice was included in the DPEIE's first postal survey (DPEIE 1988: xv) and the results showed that "glib ice" was selected by 83% of respondents over the alternate variants of "black ice" and "glare ice" (see DPEIE, s.v. "glib"); thus, DPEIE marks glib as "common generally, but occasional under thirty". This suggestion of diminished use among younger speakers coincides with a lack of written attestations found in current Canadian sources, as well as the term's marking as "now rare" (see OED-2, s.v. "glib" (1)) and "archaic" (see W-3, s.v. "glib" (1)).
  See COD-2, s.v. "glib" (2), which is marked "Cdn (esp. PEI), ITP Nelson, s.v. "glib ice", which is defined as "glare ice" that is marked "Canadian" and DPEIE, s.v. "glib".

  See also: glare ice (def. 1)  glib  

  • 1837  (1952)  While we were enjoying the scenes around us, a fellow with a showy horse and gay cariole shot past us on the glib ice like lightning. . . .
  • 1952  [Caption] The carriole is driving on the "glib ice" of the Assiniboine's mouth.
  • 1988  Ice is important stuff to Prince Edward Island. When the province joined Confederation in 1873, Canada made a promise the people over there have never forgotten: "Efficient steam service for the conveyance of mails and passengers, to be established and maintained between the Island and the mainland of the Dominion, Winter and Summer, thus placing the Island in continuous communication with the Intercolonial Railway and the Railway System of the Dominion." But off and on for the past 115 winters, ice has forced Canada to break that promise, and then the briefly marooned islanders have raged against the feds. [...] Black ice has two meanings on P.E.I. On a highway, it's a thin, dangerous coating that's almost invisible. On a lake or pond, it's a layer so thin and transparent it looks dark. Black ice is thinner than glib or glibby ice, which is very hard, smooth and slippery. Glib ice is perfect for skating. 
  • 2003  "It's some slippy when there's a skiff of snow on the glib ice." - from the collection of island author and historian David Weale.