overfall
Britishnoun
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a turbulent stretch of water caused by marine currents over an underwater ridge
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a mechanism that allows excess water to escape from a dam or lock
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the point at which a sewer or land drainage discharges into the sea or a river
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It was most probable that an overfall existed somewhere, and doubtless through a cleft in the granite.
From The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne
With the wind blowing violently, the current driving fast to the westward and a high sea increasing every moment, Paul was lost sight of for nearly forty minutes, in an unusually heavy overfall.
From The Story of Paul Boyton Voyages on All the Great Rivers of the World by Paul Boyton
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 Robert Kerr
I think there is not in the world so strange an overfall, nor so wonderful to behold.
From The Discovery of Guiana by Sir Walter Raleigh
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
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