vlei

noun

variants or less commonly vlaie or vly

in sense 1 ˈf|lā or ˈv| or |lī or Afrik ˈfləi,

in sense 2 ˈvlī or ˈflī

plural -s

1

or less commonly vley southern Africa : a marshy depression in which water collects in the wet season : a temporary lake : pan

2

North : marsh

Word History

Etymology

in sense 1, from Afrikaans vlei meadow, valley, vlei, from Middle Dutch valeye valley, field, from Old French valee; in sense 2, from obsolete Dutch dialect (Hudson valley) vlei, from Middle Dutch valeye

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