water-swallown.2
/ˈwɔːtəˌswɒləʊ/, U.S. /ˈwɔdərˌswɑloʊ/, /ˈwɑdərˌswɑloʊ/ Now rare.
An opening or deep cavity in the ground through which a stream or river disappears underground, esp. in an area of water-soluble rock formations such as limestone karst; = swallow-hole n.
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the world > the earth > land > landscape > low land > hole or pit > [noun] > pot-hole or swallow-hole
water sink1553
swallow1610
swallow-hole1660
estuary1665
swallet1668
cockpit1683
sinkhole1772
sink1791
pot1797
water-swallow1811
shake-hole1823
pothole1826
fleet-hole1839
spout hole1849
katavothron1869
ponor1890
sump1951
1811 J. Farey Gen. View Agric. Derbyshire I. 295 (heading) A list of Water-swallows, or Holes in the Rocks, into which Streams of Water fall and disappear, in and near Derbyshire.
1840 J. Hodgson & J. Raine Hist. Northumberland: Pt. II III. 327/2 (note) A stratum of limestone full of water-swallow-holes.
1889 Jrnl. Derbysh. Archæol. Soc. 11 34 This valley is entirely drained by ‘water-swallows’—natural drains along the bottom, through which the surface-rills sink out of sight.
1965 Geogr. Jrnl. 131 49 Permanent water-swallows often occur in blind-headed valleys.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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