watershed etymology

Etymology

The word "watershed" is derived from two Middle English words:

• Water: From Old English "wæter," meaning "a body of water"
• Shed: From Old English "sċēdan," meaning "to separate" or "to divide"

Meaning and Origin

A watershed is a topographic area that drains into a single body of water. It is the area of land that is bounded by a divide, which is a high point that separates the drainage basins of two different water bodies.

The term "watershed" was originally used to describe the physical boundaries that separate different river systems. However, it has since been expanded to refer to any area of land that is drained by a single water body, including lakes, streams, and aquifers.

Watersheds are important because they play a vital role in the water cycle. They collect rainwater and snowmelt, and they store and release water into rivers, lakes, and aquifers. Watersheds also provide habitat for a variety of plants and animals, and they help to protect water quality.

watershed relate terms

• shed

  Etymology The word shed has two distinct etymological origins Old English scead

• shed

  Etymology The word shed has two distinct etymological origins Old English scead

• watershed

  Etymology The word watershed is derived from two Middle English words Water From Ol

• water

  Etymology The word water originates from the Old English word wæter which is deriv

• Punjab

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• julep

  Etymology Middle English julip Old French julap Medieval Latin julepus Arabic julab

• fire

  Etymology The word fire comes from the Old English fīr which is ultimately derived

• basin

  Etymology The word basin comes from the Old French word bassin which in turn comes f

• divide

  Etymology Latin dividere Proto Indo European dey meaning to distribute divide

• landmark

  Etymology The word landmark is derived from the Old English words land land and m

• occasion

  Etymology The word occasion derives from the Latin word occasiō occasion meanin

• line

  Etymology The word line originates from the Old French word ligne which in turn deri

• river

  Etymology The word river comes from the Latin word rivus meaning brook or stream

• area

  Etymology The word area comes from the Latin word area which means open space or

• area

  Etymology The word area comes from the Latin word area which means open space or

• point

  Etymology The word point comes from the Latin word punctum which means a prick a d

• prodigal

  Etymology The word prodigal is derived from the Latin word prodīgus which means wa