spillway

American  

[spil-wey] / ˈspɪlˌweɪ /

noun

1. a passageway through which surplus water escapes from a reservoir, lake, or the like.

---

spillway British  

/ ˈspɪlˌweɪ /

noun

1. Also called: wasteweir.   spill.  a channel that carries away surplus water, as from a dam

---

Etymology

Origin of spillway

First recorded in 1885–90; spill ¹ + way ¹

Example Sentences

Lee said he’s aware of only two other similarly passive spillways in California, one in Trinity Lake in Trinity County and one at Whiskeytown Lake in Shasta County, which also spilled over last week.

From Los Angeles Times

They have completed reports on 31 of those, including assessments of whether their spillways are big enough to handle a flood.

From Science Magazine

Next to the lake, a spillway flows into a stream that the Department of Water Resources refers to as Blue Canyon Creek.

From Los Angeles Times

Some of what they remove will be used to fill in the dam’s emergency spillway which is carved into the rock beside the river.

From Los Angeles Times

But when the river is high, opening the spillway eases pressure on the levees that protect New Orleans.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• inundation