Barrancas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A steep-sided ravine or gully, often carved by erosion and typically found in arid regions
2. A deep, narrow valley formed through geological processes, usually featuring steep cliffs and scarce vegetation
3. A geological feature resembling a canyon, characterized by its steep walls and often associated with dry landscapes and erosion processes

Etymology: "Barrancas" is simply the plural of "barranca," so the story belongs to the singular. "Barranca" was borrowed from Spanish, where it names a steep-sided gully cut into the land by running water. English took it up for the deep, eroded ravines of dry country, the sort of terrain where a sudden downpour can carve a channel into soft ground faster than vegetation can hold it together. The Spanish word has been used for these features for centuries, and English adopted it precisely because no native word captured that combination of steep walls and arid setting. Its sense stayed concrete and geographical, tied to landscape rather than moving into figurative use.

Synonyms: ravines, gorges