graupel

noun

grau·​pel ˈgrau̇-pəl 

: granular snow pellets

called also soft hail

Did you know?

The word graupel is Germanic in origin; it is the diminutive of Graupe, meaning "pearl barley." According to etymologists, there does seem to be a grain of truth in the assumption that the word grew from the Slavic word krupa, which has the same meaning. Graupel was first seen in an 1889 weather report and has been whirling around in the meteorology field ever since to describe "pellets of snow" or "soft hail" (the latter phrase is an actual synonym of graupel).

Examples of graupel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Here’s everything to know about Arizona’s winter precipitation — what’s most beneficial, what’s most dangerous and what’s that graupel stuff, anyway. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 5 Dec. 2024

In Ventura, some residents shared video of hail — or possibly graupel — blanketing streets and sidewalks. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025

Wintry mix:Arizona's cold weather may bring a mix of rain, snow, hail and graupel New seat belt rules are coming. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 18 Dec. 2024

In cooler times:Arizona's cold weather may bring a mix of rain, snow, hail and graupel Thanks for reading and for subscribing to AZ Climate, the Arizona Republic's weekly environment newsletter. —Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

German

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for graupel

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• cartel
• carvel
• clamshell
• cogswell
• compel

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