I. ˈslüs noun
Etymology: Middle English sluse, alteration of scluse, from Anglo-French escluse, from Late Latin exclusa, from Latin, feminine of exclusus, past participle of excludere to exclude
Date: 15th century
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 usually on the ground ; especially : such a contrivance paved usually with riffles to hold quicksilver for catching gold
II. verb
( sluiced ; sluic·ing )
Date: 1596
transitive verb
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
intransitive verb
: to pour as if from a sluice