overfalls

American  

[oh-ver-fawlz] / ˈoʊ vərˌfɔlz /

noun

1. Oceanography. water made rough by a strong current moving over a shoal, by an opposing current, or by winds blowing against the current.

2. Obsolete. a cataract or waterfall.

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Etymology

Origin of overfalls

First recorded in 1535–45; over- + fall + -s ³

Example Sentences

Mr Sharp said: "We are tired but feel quite ecstatic to have finished. "It was a bit hairy towards the finish... with strong tides and big overfalls in the dark.

From BBC • Dec. 15, 2015

We steered E. by S. constantly throwing the lead, in regard to the overfalls or ripplings, which were very fearful, yet had no ground at sixty fathoms.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 08 by Kerr, Robert

The current with heavy overfalls, caused him to be constantly taken under water, and also proved very trying to those in the boat.

From The Story of Paul Boyton Voyages on All the Great Rivers of the World by Boyton, Paul

Also, strange overfalls, the waves of which, even in calm weather, will throw their crests over the bulwarks.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

On entering the streights, we found a very strong ripling of the sea, which we were apprehensive were overfalls; but we found it was a strong current setting to the westward.

From An Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island by Hunter, John