transhumance

Definition

The seasonal movement of people, with their cattle or other grazing animals, to new pastures which may be quite distant.

Etymology

Borrowed from French transhumance, ultimately from Latin trāns (“across, beyond”) + humus (“ground”).

Example Sentences

• "There are rites of spring in the mountains, and this week I followed the transhumance, the annual movement of cattle, from their lower valley winter quarters up to the higher pastures."

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