boulder-strewn
Meaning
covered with many large rocks
Structure
Usage
the hikers carefully picked their way across the boulder-strewn slope.
the river flowed swiftly through the boulder-strewn canyon.
the ancient path was almost impassable, boulder-strewn and overgrown.
Etymology
the compound adjective 'boulder-strewn' is a modern english formation that transparently combines two elements to create a descriptive landscape term. the first element, 'boulder', entered english from scandinavian languages, related to swedish bullersten meaning 'noisy stone' (perhaps from the sound of water rushing over it), and ultimately connects to a proto-indo-european root for swelling or roundness, apt for its shape. the second element, 'strewn', derives from old english strēowian, meaning to scatter, which itself traces back to the proto-indo-european root stere- 'to spread'. the compound logically follows the pattern 'noun + past participle' to describe a terrain literally 'scattered with large rocks,' efficiently evoking an image of a rugged, rocky surface.
Analysis
boulder: from middle english bulder, of scandinavian origin; a large rock. strewn: past participle of the verb strew, from old english strēowian; meaning to scatter or spread things untidily over a surface.