dalls
An American frontier and fur-trade term for a stretch of river where the water is forced through a narrow rocky channel, creating dangerous white water.
Definitions
An American frontier and fur-trade term for a stretch of river where the water is forced through a narrow rocky channel, creating dangerous white water. Most famous in 'The Dalles' on the Columbia River, Oregon, which was a major portage point on the Oregon Trail. Likely from French 'dalle' (flagstone, trough).
The canoeists lined their boats around the dalls rather than risk capsizing in the churning water.
Comments
(US, obsolete) Rapids; a rough section of water.
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Semantically related
- dale58%
A trough or spout to carry off water, as from a pump.
- daleside58%
A British geographical descriptor for the side or slope of a dale — a valley, particularly in northern England where 'dale' is the standard word for a river valley (as in Wensleydale, Swaledale). Used as a noun or in attributive position to describe communities, landscapes, or properties situated along a valley's flank. Common in Yorkshire and the Lake District contexts.
- dale55%
A valley, often in an otherwise hilly area.
- daleside54%
(UK, often, attributive) The side of a dale.