Wordie: Whumpf: Comments

Comment by cedarwaxwing99, 9 months ago

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 07:17:56 +0000

Whumpf - a technical term in avalanche science referring to the collapsing failure of a weak layer in the snowpack - most often on flat terrain - that results in a sigh, hiss or "whumpf". The spelling has been roundly debated and alternates: whumph, whomp, wump, wumpf are in use.

Whumpf is the preferred spelling in the Operational Guidelines and Recording Standards for Snow and Avalanche Observations Canadian Avalanche Association, 2007.

Comment by chained_bear, 11 months ago

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 03:25:22 +0000

:) Aww, you're too kind!

See also whomp.

Comment by yarb, 11 months ago

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 16:49:16 +0000

According to some, the noise made by the wingbeats of the fell beasts ridden by the Nazgul in the Lord of the Rings movie.