Definition of "ice-jam" [ice-jam]

• A mass of fragments of river ice piled irregularly by the current, so as to obstruct its flow. (noun)

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "Mile a dark speck appeared for a moment against the white background of an ice-jam, he cast an anxious eye at the sun."
• "Then they topped an ice-jam and struck a smooth stretch below, where were a number of relay camps and where the snow was packed widely."
• "But midway they encountered an ice-jam which took an hour of heavy work to cross."