overfall

British  

/ ˈəʊvəˌfɔːl /

noun

1. a turbulent stretch of water caused by marine currents over an underwater ridge

2. a mechanism that allows excess water to escape from a dam or lock

3. the point at which a sewer or land drainage discharges into the sea or a river

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Example Sentences

About a coss lower down is an overfall where the water is not above three feet deep, but a mile in breadth, by which camels usually pass.

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

It was most probable that an overfall existed somewhere, and doubtless through a cleft in the granite.

From The Mysterious Island by Verne, Jules

At seven-thirty o'clock, he was again lost sight of in a heavy overfall, the current setting to the eastward at a place commonly known as La Ballesta.

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

The DAM at the Croton River is 40 feet high, and the overfall 251 feet in length.

From Handbook of The New York Public Library by New York Public Library

A little above it, was an ancient overfall weir, which had also contributed to scour away the foundations of the piers.

From The Life of Thomas Telford; civil engineer with an introductory history of roads and travelling in Great Britain by Smiles, Samuel