wisconsin dells
wisconsin dells Lexical Profile
• noun
American A city and popular tourist region in south-central Wisconsin, situated along the Wisconsin River and celebrated for its glacier-carved sandstone rock formations and high concentration of indoor and outdoor water parks.
"Every summer, families from all over the Midwest drive to Wisconsin Dells to enjoy the massive water parks and scenic boat tours through the gorges."
Word Nuance & Usage
Though plural in form, Wisconsin Dells is treated grammatically as a singular proper noun when referring to the city or region; it is also widely known by the colloquial shorthand 'The Dells'.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Originally founded as Kilbourn City, it was officially renamed Wisconsin Dells in 1931 to attract tourism to the striking sandstone formations along the Wisconsin River. The term 'Dells' is an anglicization of the French word 'dalles' (meaning rapids or narrows), a term used by early French-Canadian explorers.