A large gate or barrier designed to control the flow of water and prevent or release flooding from a reservoir, dam, or waterway.
Compound of 'flood' and 'gate' (Old English 'geat'); dating to medieval water management when the first large-scale dams and canals required controllable barriers.
The phrase 'open the floodgates' comes from literally opening these massive medieval gates—one person could trigger a torrent affecting an entire valley by releasing one valve.
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