rockfall

• rock fall

rock +‎ fall

rockfall (plural rockfalls)

1. A quantity of rocks that has fallen from a cliff etc.

   Synonym: rockslide

   • 1964 December, Mark Bourne, “The rejuvenation of the Cambrian line”, in Modern Railways, page 390:

     A 200-ton rockfall recently blocked the Machynlleth sidings, trapping several locomotives; a rock-slip on the approach embankment to Talerddig required expensive revetting last year; and on the coastal section to Barmouth an 80 foot-high stone revetment was completed some time ago at Friog; [...].

   • 2020 July 15, Andrew Roden, “Network News: COVID-19 delays Dawlish resilience completion”, in Rail, pages 24–25:

     Design work is now complete on the Parsons Tunnel North programme, which envisages a 209-metre rockfall shelter built from a jack-up barge as there is no road access.