spruit

A farmer checks the water level in the spruit.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small stream or irrigation channel: In South African English, "spruit" refers to a small, often seasonal watercourse or a man-made ditch used for irrigation. It is typically found in rural or agricultural areas.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The farmer dug a spruit to bring water to his crops during the dry season. (A small irrigation channel created for agricultural purposes.)
  • We crossed the spruit on foot, as it was only ankle-deep. (A small stream that can be easily traversed.)

Advanced Usage

• "to follow the spruit": to trace a small watercourse, often used in navigation or land surveying.
  • The hikers decided to follow the spruit to find the main river. (They walked along the small stream to reach a larger body of water.)

Variants and Related Words

• Spruitjie (diminutive noun, Afrikaans-derived): a very small spruit or trickle of water.
  • After the rain, a spruitjie formed in the garden. (A tiny stream appeared briefly.)

Synonyms

• Stream: a small, narrow river.
• Brook: a small natural watercourse.
• Ditch: a narrow channel dug for drainage or irrigation.

Related Idioms

• "dry as a spruit in winter": used to describe something completely devoid of water or moisture (common in South African English).
  • The reservoir was dry as a spruit in winter after the long drought. (Completely empty and parched.)