washways

Noun

washway (plural washways)

1. A channel where water flows during floods, especially one that is carved out by erosion caused by floodwater.
   • […] justifies a conclusion, that by the farther contraction of the descending waters over the washway, the navigation and drainage through the Wisbeach river, will be farther improved.1811, Richard Parkinson, General view of the agriculture of the County of Huntingdon, Great Britain: Board of Agriculture, page 341
2. A sluice where manure and other agricultural waste is washed away.
   • The steers in this treatment had space for standing only in the washways, whereas the steers in all the other treatments had additional standing or lying space other than the washways.1966, California Feeder's Day, page 65
3. A portion of a device where something is washed.
   • […] said deformable means having lens contacting opposed surfaces providing a washway and adapted for wiping engagement with a lens moved longitudinally in the washway.1962, Milton L. Obitts, “Wash Kit for Contact Lenses and the Like”, in Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, page 388
4. A means of washing.
   • You'll probably admit that a good washing machine is better than the old time washway.1917, “Compare These Two Washways”, in Good Housekeeping, volume 65, page 159