isblað

Isblað is a noun in Icelandic meaning a sheet of ice. It is a compound formed from ís, meaning ice, and blað, meaning sheet or flat layer. The primary sense refers to a thin, flat layer of ice that forms on a surface when temperatures drop below freezing. This can occur on bodies of water such as ponds and lakes, or on surfaces like roads, sidewalks, or windows.

In everyday language, isblað describes the slick, glassy layer that results from freezing and can be slippery or brittle depending on thickness and conditions. The term is most common in non-technical writing and spoken language. In scientific contexts, glaciology tends to use more specific terminology for different ice formations, and isblað is generally encountered as a descriptive rather than a technical label.

Etymology and usage notes: isblað is a straightforward compound of is and blad, both common Icelandic roots. The word may appear in news reports, weather summaries, travel writing, and casual observation to convey the image of a surface covered by ice.

See also: ís (ice), blað (sheet/leaf), ísbreiða (ice sheet in glaciology), frost, slippery surfaces.

References: Icelandic dictionaries such as Orðabók Háskólans and other Icelandic language resources provide definitions and usage examples for isblað.