frost; bitter cold
Rare literary or archaic term for severe cold or frost. In modern Japanese, 厳寒 or 極寒 are more common for 'bitter cold', and 霜 for 'frost'.
In old documents, the expression 'season of bitter cold' can be found.
Compound of 凍 (freeze) and 寒 (cold). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; it is a rare Sino-Japanese term.