[silt] n [ME cylte, prob. of Scand origin; akin to Dan sylt salt marsh; akin to OHG sulza salt marsh, OE sealt salt] (15c) 1: loose sedimentary material with rock particles usu. 1/20 millimeter or less in diameter; also: soil containing 80 percent or more of such silt and less than 12 percent of clay
2: a deposit of sediment (as by a river) -- silty adj
[2]silt vi (1799): to become choked or obstructed with silt--often used with up "the channel ~ed up" ~ vt: to choke, fill, cover, or obstruct with silt or mud "the beaver had ~ed the creek --Hugh Fosburgh" -- sil.ta.tion n