anicut
|a-ni-cut|
/ˈænɪkʌt/
low dam or weir for irrigation/diversion
Etymology
'anicut' originates from Tamil, specifically the words 'aṇai' and 'kaṭṭu,' where 'aṇai' meant 'dam' and 'kaṭṭu' meant 'to build; embankment.'
'aṇai-kaṭṭu' entered Anglo-Indian English as the form 'annicut,' and eventually became the modern English word 'anicut'.
Initially, it meant 'a dam or bund across a river for irrigation,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a low dam or masonry weir built across a river or stream, especially in South Asia, to raise the water level or divert water for irrigation; also spelled 'annicut'.
The engineers constructed an anicut to channel water into the rice paddies.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
by extension, a headworks or barrage controlling river flow within an irrigation system.
Upstream, the anicut regulates seasonal flow before it reaches the canals.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/11 05:07