chenier

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A long narrow ridge of sand and shells in coastal marshes

noun
/ʃəˈnɪr/

Specialized

: chenier

In Louisiana, a chenier acts as a critical habitat for many species of birds and other wildlife.

Examples

The chenier protects the coastal marsh from erosion.
During our hike, we stopped to admire the unique ecosystem that thrives on the chenier in the Gulf Coast region.
The hurricane reshaped the chenier along the Louisiana coastline.
Many birds nest on the elevated chenier above the surrounding marsh.
Scientists study how a chenier forms and changes over time in coastal environments.
Many birds nest on the cheniers along the Gulf Coast.
The coastal landscape features a long, narrow ridge of sand called a chenier that protects the marshland from strong waves.

Surface Forms

chenier singular

cheniers plural

Etymology

Chenier comes from the French chênière, meaning 'oak grove', from chêne 'oak', because these narrow, raised ridges in coastal marshes often had oak trees on them. So a chenier is a higher strip of sand or shell in a marsh where trees could grow, which explains the name.