dalles

¹ American  

[dalz] / dælz /

plural noun

1. the rapids of a river running between the walls of a canyon or gorge.

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Dalles ² American  

[dalz] / dælz /

noun

1. The, a city in N Oregon.

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dalles British  

/ dælz, ˈdæləs /

plural noun

1. a stretch of a river between high rock walls, with rapids and dangerous currents

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Etymology

Origin of dalles

1825–35, < Canadian French, plural of French dial. (Normandy) dalle literally, sink ≪ Germanic; compare Old English dæl dale

Example Sentences

The walls of sandstone weather in a peculiar manner at some points in the Lower dalles, as shown on Plate XXX.

From The Geography of the Region about Devils Lake and the Dalles of the Wisconsin by Atwood, Wallace W.

This is perhaps best seen in that part of the dalles known as the "Navy Yard."

From The Geography of the Region about Devils Lake and the Dalles of the Wisconsin by Atwood, Wallace W.

Continuing our road in the afternoon, we ascended to the uplands, where the river passes round a point of great beauty, and goes through very remarkable dalles, in character resembling those of the Columbia.

From The Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, Oregon and California To which is Added a Description of the Physical Geography of California, with Recent Notices of the Gold Region from the Latest and Most Authentic Sources by Frémont, John Charles

The preglacial course of the Wisconsin south of the dalles has never been determined with certainty, but rational conjectures as to its position have been made.

From The Geography of the Region about Devils Lake and the Dalles of the Wisconsin by Atwood, Wallace W.

But the early French hunters and trappers called a chasm or a defile or gorge, "dalles," meaning in their vernacular "a trough"—and "Dalles" it has remained.

From Oregon, Washington and Alaska; Sights and Scenes for the Tourist by Lomax, E. L. (Edward Lloyd)