Couloir entered English in the 19th century from French, where it literally meant "passage." The term was originally applied specifically to steep gorges in the Alps and later to similar gorges elsewhere, especially ones used by skiers as passages down mountains. Because of their narrowness and steepness, couloirs can provide even expert skiers with some of the most challenging terrain they are likely to encounter-and they can be dangerous. In fact, journalist Jim Kochevar, writing of his experiences at the Telluride ski area for the Chicago Tribune in October 1997, declared (tongue in cheek) that "Couloir is French for 'cold, narrow place to die.'"
at one point the steep, ice-encrusted walls of the couloir are no more than 50 feet apart
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Many of these ski lines are clustered in the same drainages, but while in years past Noyes has been able to complete multiple descents in a day, this year, the hot April sun shortened the windows during which those couloirs would be safe from wet avalanches.—Jake Stern, Outside Online, 25 Apr. 2025 For more than eight hours, rescuers worked to reach the hikers and lower them from the couloir.—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 27 May 2024 In August, 21-year-old Jadyn Weiss fell 300 feet to her death while descending a steep mountain gully known as the Flying Dutchman couloir.—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 2 Oct. 2023 Rivulets and rocks made the couloir treacherous.—Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2023 That includes backcountry boarding and skiing with friends, ice climbing, snowshoeing, hiking and climbing couloirs.—Chris Meehan, Popular Mechanics, 27 Feb. 2023
Share