Hoar frost on a spiderweb
Hoar frost may have different names depending on where it forms. For example, air hoar is a deposit of hoar frost on objects above the surface, such as tree branches, plant stems, wires; surface hoar is formed by fernlike ice crystals directly deposited on snow, ice or already frozen surfaces; crevasse hoar consists in crystals that form in glacial crevasses where water vapour can accumulate under calm weather conditions; depth hoar refers to cup shaped, faceted crystals formed within dry snow, beneath the surface.
Text from Wikipedia. Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
All hoar is frost, but not all frost is hoar. Therefore, calling it "hoar frost" is redundant and akin to ordering your french dip "with au jus" (or better yet, "avec with au jus juice").
ReplyDeleteAnd if you care to go all olde English, it would be more correct to spell it as a single word, hoarfrost.
[pedantic - marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects] *insert self-deprecating grin*
I think I've indicated before that pedantry is quite welcome on this blog.
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