Map showing various names for creeks/streams/runs in the USA

A slough is more like a very large ditch than like a stream. You find them in river deltas especially.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs (from Vancouver BC, where we know about deltas)

an) and saw signs for muddy inlets called "sloughs". I had never heard that name and started looking into it and then I came across this map that show s all the various names for (mostly small) waterways in the USA.

unusual name I am familiar with living in MI and OH is "run". We also have "drains" that are not mentioned on this map

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You need to be careful of using the term "ditch". In North Carolina I kaya ked in "ditches" that we called canals. One was the access to the Great Di smal Swamp in Lake Drummond. In looking it up just now, a web page makes t he point that Lake Drummond (miles across) is a lake on top of a hill as it is the highest point in the Great Dismal Swamp! Now that I think about i t we did have to cross a lock to enter the lake.

The first "ditch" we paddled was the Intracoastal Waterway with large power boats. So not what anyone would normally call a ditch.

Also, Slough is a town in the UK, at one time with the the largest industrial estate in Europe. It was the setting for the original UK version of the TV comedy 'The Office' and was derided by John Betjeman in his eponymous poem...

I went there once, but it was closed.

Also, Slough is a town in the UK, at one time with the the largest industrial estate in Europe. It was the setting for the original UK version of the TV comedy 'The Office' and was derided by John Betjeman in his eponymous poem...

I went there once, but it was closed.

You had a narrow escape.

Don't forget "kills" and "burns".

Suddenly, the idea of "50" words for "snow" doesn't seem so outrageous!

The map does show "kill". It is pretty contained to NY state just north of NYC to Albany. It does not look to extend into MA or CT.....pretty much a NY thing.

Maybe that is what Catskills is about?

"kil" is "creek" in Dutch:

It was originally New Amsterdam after all.

Don't forget "kills" and "burns".

You have to look at how each region was settled in order to understand why certain language features were adopted (locally). Amusingly, a good deal of US language is closer to its historic origins than *those* origins have remained.

In school (folks from around the country/world), it was common to explore regional/country language differences. E.g., most folks were clueless when I'd refer to a "packie". And, of course "soda" vs. "pop" vs. "tonic" vs. "seltzer". Or, "milk shake" vs. "frappe".

And then there are bayous.

) and saw signs for muddy inlets called "sloughs". I had never heard that n ame and started looking into it and then I came across this map that shows all the various names for (mostly small) waterways in the USA.

usual name I am familiar with living in MI and OH is "run". We also have "d rains" that are not mentioned on this map

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A slough is stagnant water whereas a creek is moving: