anabranch

English

Etymology

From ana- (extracted from anastomosing) +‎ branch.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈænəbɹæntʃ/, /ˈænəbɹɑːntʃ/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • Audio (General American):(file)

Noun

anabranch (plural anabranches)

  1. (hydrology, of a water channel, especially in Australia) A diverging branch of a river, creek, or stream which re-enters the main stream.
    • 1834, Colonel Jackson, “Hints on the Subject of Geographical Arrangement and Nomenclature”, in The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, Volume 4:
      Such branches of a river as after separation reunite, I would term anastomosing branches; or, if a word might be coined, anabranches, and the islands they form branch islands.

References

  • National Weather Service (23 March 2010 (last accessed)) “Anabranch”, in Glossary, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Further reading