n. A soil rich in soluble salt, often having a salt crust and mineral deposits to a depth of one foot, formed in areas of high evaporation, especially where the water table is close to the surface. [Russian solončak, from solonets, salty soil, salty lake; akin to Old Church Slavonic slanŭ, salty; see sal- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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