river bottom

Noun

river bottom (plural river bottoms)

1. The lowest part of a river, where the water meets the ground below.
   • A poler's feet never leave the deck. The climbing action simply exerts power to the river bottom, an action that moves the craft in an appropriate direction. The power of pushing off the bottom of the river is transferred to the craft through the soles of the poler's feet. It is a technique applied...2004, Verne C. Huser, “Traveling upstream and down”, in On the River With Lewis and Clark (Environmental History series), volume 19, Texas A&M University Press, →ISBN, pages 117-118

   Synonyms:

   riverbed

2. The alluvial land along the margin of a river.
   • [Old Humpback:] "Every other day, after we have eaten up our rations, we march through a big door and the man gives us a brass check to exchange at the window for more. Every man, woman and child is given two pounds of meat and two more of flour or corn; and when we would not eat their bacon they...1926, Dane Coolidge, “Chapter 26: The Peace Council”, in Under the Sun [a novel], E.P. Dutton, page 252
   • Dear Sir: One of my early recollections is of a flood on my grandmother's farm on the Sangamon river in Illinois. I also recall the optimistic family discussions of the project undertaken by the Army Corps of Engineers to straighten the channel and build levees. The property assessments were...2000 February 15, United States Army Corps of Engineers, quoting William B. Newcomb, “Letter from Mr. William B. Newcomb to Mr. Tod D. Smith, Buffalo District, US Army Corps of Engineers”, in...

   Synonyms:

   bottomland, bottom, alluvial plain, floodplain