culvert

[ kuhl-vert ]

noun

1. a drain or channel crossing under a road, sidewalk, etc.; sewer; conduit.

culvert

/ ˈkʌlvət /

noun

1. a drain or covered channel that crosses under a road, railway, etc
2. a channel for an electric cable
3. a tunnel through which water is pumped into or out of a dry dock

Word History and Origins

Origin of culvert¹

First recorded in 1765–75; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of culvert¹

C18: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

She was driving to meet a reporter waiting in an Oklahoma City motel when she crashed into the concrete wing wall of a culvert.

From The Daily Beast

A culvert packed with explosives presents a particularly dangerous and challenging problem.

From The Daily Beast

A "culvert" is a bridge of small span giving passage to drainage.

From Project Gutenberg

"I don't know—I couldn't see—we ran into a culvert," replied Maud.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a shrieking streak of white and he disappeared under a culvert.

From Project Gutenberg

By these hornbeam trees a little streamlet flows out from the copse and under the road by a culvert.

From Project Gutenberg

Under the natural culvert, formed by the trunk fallen across, they cast their lines, using flies from their hook.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• duct
• gutter
• pipe