floodgate

[ fluhd-geyt ]

/ ˈflʌdˌgeɪt /

Civil Engineering. a gate designed to regulate the flow of water.

anything serving to control the indiscriminate flow or passage of something.

Origin of floodgate

Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; see origin at flood, gate¹

And, crestfallen, she went along the passages, and once more out into Floodgate Street.

The Freelands |John Galsworthy
The dam and floodgate were just beyond the southwestern bastion and the old embankment of the dam can still be traced.

Historic Highways of America (Vol. 7) |Archer Butler Hulbert
Meeting his gaze, she unbarred a floodgate of happy tenderness in her eyes.

The Path of a Star |Mrs. Everard Cotes (AKA Sara Jeannette Duncan)
The inventor of the damper register opened a floodgate to such aliquot re-enforcement as can be got in no other way.

Scientific American Supplement, No. 385, May 19, 1883 |Various

The pond or reservoir above the floodgate is separated from the weir by a stone wall on the left, or south-west side.

Wild Wales |George Borrow

floodgate

/ (ˈflʌdˌɡeɪt) /

Also called: head gate, water gate a gate in a sluice that is used to control the flow of water See also sluicegate

(often plural) a control or barrier against an outpouring or flow to open the floodgates to immigration