red snow
Preserved but no longer current.
Snow reddened by the presence of a minute alga, Protococcus nivalis, in large numbers. It is not at all uncommon in arctic and alpine regions, where its sanguine colour formerly caused it to be regarded as a portent of evil.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “red snow” mean?
Snow reddened by the presence of a minute alga, Protococcus nivalis, in large numbers. It is not at all uncommon in arctic and alpine regions, where its sanguine colour formerly caused it to be regarded as a portent of evil.
Is “red snow” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.