Outfall
noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A sudden eruption of troops from a fortified place; sally. obsolete
- 2 the outlet of a river or drain or other source of water wordnet
- 3 A quarrel; a falling out. dialectal
- 4 The point or place of discharge of a river, drain, culvert, sewer, etc.; mouth; embouchure.
"West of Keswick a short descent at 1 in 122 brings the train down to the low-lying and marshy ground between Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake and to the crossing of the Derwent - the outfall from Derwentwater, [...]."
- 1 To burst forth, as upon an enemy; make a sally. obsolete, transitive
Example
More examples"West of Keswick a short descent at 1 in 122 brings the train down to the low-lying and marshy ground between Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake and to the crossing of the Derwent - the outfall from Derwentwater, [...]."
Etymology
From Middle English outfallen, equivalent to out- + fall. Compare Dutch uitvallen (“to fall out, sally”), German ausfallen (“to fall out, lunge”), Swedish utfalla (“to fall out”).
From out- + fall. Compare Dutch uitval (“outburst, sally, eruption”), German Ausfall (“falling out, sally”), Swedish utfall (“sally, issue”).