A sudden flood in a river, especially a brief but violent overflow caused by heavy rains or rapid snowmelt. The term often describes the flood condition itself rather than just the flowing water.
From Middle English, possibly from Old French 'espoit' (flood), or related to 'spout.' The word has been used in British English since the 15th century, originally describing any sudden outpouring, later specialized for river flooding.
Scottish Highland rivers are famous for their dramatic spates, where peaceful streams can become thundering brown torrents within hours of rainfall in the mountains! These spates were historically crucial for floating timber down to sawmills.
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