Did you know that 'sluice' is actually French?

'Sluice' is a word borrowed from French 'escluse'. The word entered the English language some time around the 15th century.

sluice [noun] [15th century]

• an artificial passage for water (as in a millstream) fitted with a valve or gate for stopping or regulating flow
• a body of water pent up behind a floodgate
• a dock gate
• floodgate
• a stream flowing through a floodgate

See 'sluice' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from French.

Etymology: Middle English 'sluse' alteration of 'scluse' from Anglo-French 'escluse' from Late Latin 'exclusa' from Latin, feminine of 'exclusus' past participle of 'excludere' to exclude

See more loan words from 1400s.