patch ice

Noun

patch ice (uncountable)

1. Ice in overlapping pieces in the sea.
   • The wind also veered now to the westward, and the vessles were hauled up to the south-east, steering between ice-bergs and broken patch ice; but scarcely any birds were yet to be seen; though, on the 20th, two nellies were observed, and one albatross, being the first since leaving the latitude of...1834, “Recent Discoveries in the Antarctic Ocean”, in The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, page 107
   • Adult seals tend to remain in the moving patch ice, but the young seals are often seen in ice free nearshore areas.·1979, United States. Bureau of Land Management, Final Environmental Impact Statement: Proposed Federal/State Oil and Gas Lease Sale Beaufort Sea, page 80
2. A coating of ice that covers an area of the ground, caused by snow that has melted and then refrozen.
   • There had already been flurries, and in some places the road down from the Overlook was slick with patch ice.1977, Stephen King, The Shining
   • Patch ice clung to reeds and willow branches along the banks.1995, Robert Peters, For You, Lili Marlene: A Memoir of World War II, page 3
3. Ice in a skating rink that has been repaired or resurfaced to fix imperfections, cracks, or rough spots.
   • It contains a 200 by 85-foot hockey ice surface and a 100 by 61-foot "patch ice" rink for figure skating, practice and instruction.1976, Vermont Life - Volumes 31-32, page 58
   • The differences in usage by session/type of use are evident in Figure 4.4 which shows that there were more users in all categories, except patch ice and parties, in 1984/5 than 1985/6.1989, Lee Valley & Gillingham Ice Rinks, page 27