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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Sluice


SLUICE, SLUSE, noun [Latin claudo, clausi, clausus; Low Latin exclusa. The most correct orthography is sluse.]

1. The stream of water issuing through a flood-gate; or the gate itself. If the word had its origin in shutting; it denoted the frame of boards or planks which closes the opening of a mill dam; but I believe it is applied to the stream, the gate and channel. It is a common saying, that a rapid stream runs like a sluse.

2. An opening; a source of supply; that through which any thing flows. Each sluice of affluent fortune open'd soon.

SLUICE, SLUSE, verb transitive To emit by flood-gates. [Little Used]