To remove silt or sediment from something, especially to dredge or clean out accumulated silt from waterways, harbors, or structures.
From 'de-' (removal prefix) + 'silt' (fine sediment, probably from Old Norse or Scandinavian origins). This practical verb became common when maintaining waterways became systematic in the modern era.
Venice's entire existence depends on desilting—the city literally sinks because the Adriatic keeps dumping sediment, so workers constantly dredge channels to keep waterways navigable. Without desilting, Venice would disappear underwater.
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