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flood·gate n: something serving to restrain an outburst (as of litigation)— usu. used in pl.a decision that will open the floodgates for other claims
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.
floodgate
Look at other dictionaries:
floodgate — early 13c. in the figurative sense (especially with reference to tears or rain); literal sense is mid 15c.; from FLOOD (Cf. flood) + GATE (Cf. gate) … Etymology dictionary
floodgate — ► NOUN 1) a gate that can be opened or closed to admit or exclude water, especially the lower gate of a lock. 2) (the floodgates) last restraints holding back a powerful outpouring … English terms dictionary
floodgate — [flud′gāt΄] n. 1. a gate in a stream or canal, to control the height and flow of the water; sluice 2. anything like this in controlling a flow or an outburst … English World dictionary
Floodgate — Tokyo floodgates created to protect from typhoon surges Floodgates are adjustable gates used to control water flow in flood barriers, reservoir, river, stream, or levee systems. They may be designed to set spillway crest heights in dams, to… … Wikipedia
Floodgate — This interesting and unusual surname is of Anglo Saxon origin, and was originally given either as a metonymic occupational name to a keeper of the floodgate, or a topographical name to one resident by such a gate. The derivation is from the Olde… … Surnames reference
floodgate — UK [ˈflʌdˌɡeɪt] / US noun [countable] Word forms floodgate : singular floodgate plural floodgates a gate that controls a flow of water in a river or lake • open the floodgates … English dictionary
Floodgate Effect — A Floodgate Effect refers to a generic situation where a small action can result in a far greater effect with no easily discernible limit. The original analogy is that of a floodgate, which once opened, no matter how minutely, will allow water to … Wikipedia
Floodgate (novel) — Infobox Book | name = Floodgate title orig = translator = image caption = 1983 USA paperback cover author = Alistair MacLean illustrator = cover artist = country = United Kingdom language = English series = genre = Thriller novel publisher =… … Wikipedia
Floodgate Records — infobox record label name = Floodgate Records parent = East West Records founded = founder = distributor = genre = Rock country = US location = url = [http://www.floodgaterecords.com/ www.floodgaterecords.com] Floodgate Records was a part of the… … Wikipedia
floodgate — noun Etymology: Middle English flodgate Date: 13th century 1. a gate for shutting out, admitting, or releasing a body of water ; sluice 2. something serving to restrain an outburst < opened the floodgates of criticism > … New Collegiate Dictionary
