A sluice gate or water control valve used especially in Maritime Canada and Louisiana for managing tidal water flow and flooding in coastal wetlands.
From French aboiteau, literally 'with a box' (à + boîte), referencing the boxlike chamber of the gate structure used in Acadian communities.
This word is a linguistic time capsule of the Acadian experience—Acadians were French speakers in Nova Scotia and Louisiana, and their unique vocabulary like 'aboiteau' survived in English even after most Acadian French disappeared.
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