[sluice] n [ME sluse, alter. of scluse, fr. MF escluse, fr. LL exclusa, fr. L, fem. of exclusus, pp. of excludere to exclude] (15c) 1 a: an artificial passage for water (as in a millstream) fitted with a valve or gate for stopping or regulating flow b: a body of water pent up behind a floodgate
2: a dock gate: floodgate 3 a: a stream flowing through a floodgate b: a channel to drain or carry off surplus water
4: a long inclined trough usu. on the ground; esp: such a contrivance paved usu. with riffles to hold quicksilver for catching gold
[2]sluice vb sluiced ; sluic.ing vt (1593) 1: to draw off by or through a sluice
2. a: to wash with or in water running through or from a sluice b: to drench with a sudden flow: flush
3: to transport (as logs) in a sluice ~ vi: to pour as if from a sluice