gulch

[ guhlch ]

noun

1. a deep, narrow ravine, especially one marking the course of a stream or torrent.

gulch

/ ɡʌltʃ /

noun

1. a narrow ravine cut by a fast stream

Word History and Origins

Origin of gulch¹

1825–35; compare British dialect gulch, gulsh to run with a full stream, gush, (of land) to sink in, Middle English gulchen to spew forth, gush; expressive word akin to gulp, gush, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gulch¹

C19: of obscure origin

Example Sentences

On Sunday, Dec. 11, 1921, what the Seattle Star immediately called “the greatest rainstorm ever recorded in Seattle” wreaked regional havoc, nowhere more dramatically than in the gulch.

From Seattle Times

Once referred to as “garlic gulch” because of its Italian produce suppliers, Rainier Valley continued to blossom in the second half of the 20th century.

From Seattle Times

The men followed, and Dasch led them over a couple of sand dunes before coming upon a gulch.

From Literature

Few people associate urban and suburban Southern California with floods anymore, mostly because many of its rivers were dammed up or transformed into concrete gulches long ago.

From Los Angeles Times

That night, a search dog found Welch’s body in the nearby gulch.

From Seattle Times