penstock

American  

[pen-stok] / ˈpɛnˌstɒk /

noun

1. a pipe conducting water from a head gate to a waterwheel.

2. a conduit for conveying water to a power plant.

3. a sluicelike contrivance used to control the flow of water.

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penstock British  

/ ˈpɛnˌstɒk /

noun

1. a conduit that supplies water to a hydroelectric power plant

2. a channel bringing water from the head gates to a water wheel

3. a sluice for controlling water flow

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penstock Scientific  

/ pĕn′stŏk′ /

1. A sluice or gate used to control a flow of water.

2. A pipe or conduit used to carry water to a water wheel or turbine.

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Etymology

Origin of penstock

First recorded in 1600–10; pen ² + stock

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

penstock

But the skeptics were yelling up the wrong penstock.

From Time Magazine Archive

"And that's where you will go back and back and back, as you said about building the penstock?"

From Spacehounds of IPC by Smith, E. E. (Edward Elmer)

Each channel has a square penstock, so that the sewage can be diverted into either chamber when necessary.

From ASCE 1193: The Water-Works and Sewerage of Monterrey, N. L., Mexico The 4th article from the June, 1911, Volume LXXII, Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Paper No. 1193, Feb. 1, 1911. by Conway, George Robert Graham

At the gate is placed a vertical iron tube called a penstock, 7½ feet in diameter and 160 feet deep.

From Inventions in the Century by Doolittle, William Henry

I followed on to the penstock, and stood by as cast after cast was made, always cleverly over the rod, but the hook glided back on being drawn without taking hold.

From Burr Junior by Earnshaw, H. C. (Harold C.)