a marsh, fen, or low moist ground, which receives the waters from above without having any descent to carry them off again. Somner derives the word from the Saxon merfe, "lake;" Salmasius from mare, "a collection of waters;" others from the German marath, "a muddy place;" and others from marafe, of maricetum, à maricis, i.e. rufes. See Draining, Agriculture Index.

In Scotland, Ireland, and the north of England, there is a particular kind of morasses called moles, or peat-moles, whence the country people dig their peat or turf for firing. See Moss.