leat

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An artificial watercourse, canal, or aqueduct, but especially a millrace.

Pronunciation

/liːt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-leat.wav

Word forms

leat leats leet

Etymology

Probably from Middle English lete (“a meeting or intersection of roads; junction; crossroads; conduit”), from Old English ġelǣte (“a going out, ending, meeting”), as in Old English wæterġelǣt (“watercourse, aquaduct”), from Proto-Germanic *lētą, *galētą (“a letting, a letting out”). Cognate with Old High German gilāz (“outlet, exit, end, road junction”), German Gelaß (“back room, recess, private chamber”). Related to English let.

Derived words

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