neve (n.)

"field of granular snow, firn," 1843, from French névé (19c.), probably from Savoyard névi "mass of snow," from Latin nivem (nominative nix) "snow" (source of French neige), from PIE root *sneigwh- "snow, to snow" (see snow (n.)). Nivôse was the fourth month of the French revolutionary calendar, Dec. 21 to Jan. 19.