SLUICE, SLUSE, noun [Latin claudo, clausi, clausus; Low Latin exclusa. The most correct orthography is sluse.] 1. The stream of water issuing through a flood-gate; or the gate itself. If the word had its origin in shutting; it denoted the frame of boards or planks which closes the opening of a mill dam; but I believe it is applied to the stream, the gate and channel. It is a common saying, that a rapid stream runs like a sluse. 2. An opening; a source of supply; that through which any thing flows. Each sluice of affluent fortune open'd soon. SLUICE, SLUSE, verb transitive To emit by flood-gates. [Little used]
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI