Sault

/su/ or /sɔlt/ noun

Definition

A waterfall or rapids, especially in North American place names. From French meaning 'leap' or 'jump.'

Etymology

From French 'saut' meaning 'jump, leap,' from Latin 'saltus.' Used extensively in North American French colonial toponymy to describe waterfalls and rapids.

Kelly Says

The word 'sault' appears in many North American place names like Sault Ste. Marie, preserving the French colonial perspective that saw waterfalls as places where water 'leaped' - a poetic way to describe the landscape.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.