drying rock

drying rock
 n.— «Terminologically: the “drying rocks,” “shoals” and “rocks awash” formerly spoken of have given way to “low-tide elevations,” just as in French the «sèches», «fonds affleurants» and «fonds couvrants et découvrants» have given way to «hauts-fonds découvrants». The terminology is now settled. Consequently, we can only regret that from time to time our opponents continue to have recourse to out-of-date terms no longer recognized in international law.… Conceptually, today we know precisely what a low-tide elevation is. A low-tide elevation is defined in Article 13 of the 1982 Convention, to which the two Parties ascribe customary force, as “a naturally formed area of land which is surrounded by and above water at low tide but submerged at high tide.”» —“Uncorrected CR 2000/15 (translation)” by Prosper Weil The maritime delimitation process (Intl. Court of Justice) June 14, 2000. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)