See Also: floodgate(dictionary)
floodgate(dictionary)

floodgate (iou)



floodgate noun. ME.
[from FLOOD noun + GATE noun1.]
A gate that may be opened or closed to admit or exclude (esp. flood) water; spec. the lower gate of a lock. ME.
b. fig. A restraint, barrier, or check, esp. on the emotions. ME.
Shakespeare Venus & Adonis Through the floodgates breaks the silver rain. Thackeray The floodgates were opened, and mother and daughter wept.
A stream that was closed by or passed through a floodgate; a strong stream, a torrent (lit. & fig.). LME-M17.
A sluice. Also (dial.), a gate suspended over a stream so as to rise with the water in flood time but prevent the passage of cattle etc. at low water. M16.
fig.: C. Cartwright My Lord, you let a flood-gate of Arguments out. attrib.: Shakespeare Othello My particular grief Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature.