Headgates

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of valve or control structure used to regulate water flow in canals, ditches, or irrigation systems
2. A mechanism designed for opening or closing water passages to manage water distribution
3. An engineered device employed in water management to control the amount of water entering or exiting a given area

Etymology: "Headgates" is simply the plural of "headgate," a compound formed from "head" and "gate." The "head" here is the older sense of the word meaning the source or upper end of something, as in the head of a river, while the "gate" is a movable barrier that opens or closes a passage. Put together, a headgate is a gate placed at the head of a channel, such as an irrigation canal or millrace, where the flow of water begins and can be regulated. The plural form simply refers to several such gates, which is the usual situation in irrigation systems, where water is divided among many channels and each needs its own point of control.

Synonyms: sluice gates, water gates, canal gates