floodgate

See also: flood-gate and flood gate

English

Etymology

From Middle English flodegate, flodgate, flodeyate, floodȝate, flodȝete, equivalent to flood + gate.

Noun

floodgate (plural floodgates)

  1. An adjustable gate or valve used to control the flow of water through a sluice.
  2. (by extension) Anything that controls or limits an outpouring of people, emotion etc.

Translations

See also

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