noun
light reflected by snow; brightness of snow
Refers to the ambient light at night or in dim conditions caused by snow reflecting moonlight or other light sources. Often used in poetic or descriptive contexts.
雪明かりで外がほのかに明るい。
Outside is faintly lit by the light reflected from the snow.
雪明かりに照らされた庭は幻想的だった。
The garden illuminated by snow light was magical.
月光 (moonlight) itself, while 雪明かり is specifically light reflected by snow, often from the moon.
Compound of 雪 (yuki, 'snow') and 明かり (akari, 'light'). The exact historical derivation is straightforward; the word describes the phenomenon of snow-reflected light.