Ăv'a-lănche', n.

(Synop., § 130), n. [Fr. avalanche, avalange, lavanche, lavange, Pr. lavanca, It. valanga, from Fr. avaler, to descend, to let down, from aval, down, downward, from a, Lat. ad, and val, Lat. vallis, valley.] A large mass or body of snow, earth, and ice, sliding or rolling down a mountain.