Ice-break′er.
1. a. A structure for the protection of bridge-piers, etc. It is of masonry or timber. In the Victoria Bridge across the St. Lawrence at Montreal it is a long, sloping ridge of stone presented up stream, and forming a wedge-shaped starling. Other ice-breakers are starlings of piles or cribs. See ice-apron. See also pivot-bridge. b. A pier arranged with reference to the current, to prevent access of ice to the vessels in a harbor. 2. An ice-breaker for harbors is a steam-vessel provided with means for opening or keeping open a channel for ships.Ice-calk. |