back-water

back-water (plural back-waters)

1. Alternative form of backwater: the water held back by a dam or other obstruction
   • 1877, R. Elton Smile [Elton Romeo Smilie], chapter I, in The Manatitlans; or a Record of Scientific Explorations in the Andean La Plata, S. A., Buenos Ayres: Calla Derecho, Imprenta De Razon, page 14:

     The eddies and back-water of the Pilcomayo's stronger flow had carried the raft and lodged it high up above the mouth of the lesser stream, leaving an extension interstayed by the roots that reached into deep water; alongside of the raft, in the smaller stream, the steamer moored.

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2. Alternative form of backwater: water used in the papermaking process. Recycled to reduce usage of fresh water, and usually containing residual amounts of chemicals and fibres.
   • 1908, An Old Machineman, “Re Back-water Query.”, in The World's Paper Trade Review‎^[1], page 14:

     The back-water (overflow) can be used for "thinning down" the chests when emptying. If "Wastive" does this, his mind will be at ease regarding waste of pulp, and his machine-men will be happy and do their work much better than by trying to use all the back-water on the paper machine.

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