sitzmark

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 8, 2008 is: sitzmark • \SITS-mark\  • noun : a depression left in the snow by a skier falling backward Examples: Proper skiing etiquette dictates that a skier who falls in the middle of a trail should smooth over his or her sitzmark so it won't pose a hazard to other skiers. Did you know? On the slopes, do you zip down the mountain leaving other skiers in your wake? Or are you more likely to leave a trail of sitzmarks behind you? If the latter is true, you may want to give your backside a break and plop down into a comfy chair in the ski lodge instead of plunking back onto the snow. Either way, you'll find yourself sitting on your derriere, a fact you can use to remember "sitzmark." It is most likely a creation made in English from the German verb "sitzen," meaning "to sit," plus the English noun "mark," as in "impression." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.