penstock

[ pen-stok ]

noun

1. a pipe conducting water from a head gate to a waterwheel.
2. a conduit for conveying water to a power plant.
3. a sluicelike contrivance used to control the flow of water.

penstock

/ ˈpɛnˌstɒk /

noun

1. a conduit that supplies water to a hydroelectric power plant
2. a channel bringing water from the head gates to a water wheel
3. a sluice for controlling water flow

penstock

/ pĕn′stŏk′ /

1. A sluice or gate used to control a flow of water.
2. A pipe or conduit used to carry water to a water wheel or turbine.

Word History and Origins

Origin of penstock¹

First recorded in 1600–10; pen ² + stock

Word History and Origins

Origin of penstock¹

C17: from pen ² + stock

Example Sentences

The damaged tubes sit below much larger ones known as penstocks that normally carry the reservoir’s water.

From Seattle Times

At Lake Mead, the water courses through Hoover Dam’s intakes and rushes through 30-foot-wide pipes called penstocks.

From Los Angeles Times

If the reservoir falls much lower, he said, dam managers would need to stop using the main intakes, called penstocks, and could release water only through lower bypass tubes, which have reduced capacity.

From Los Angeles Times

Visitors can peer over a glass protector to observe the inner forebay, which, through underwater arches, filtered the incoming water into the plant before it churned through the penstocks.

From Washington Post

Other options include penning off areas downstream from the dam where chub congregate or installing structures such as “bubble curtains” to keep nonnatives in Lake Powell away from the penstocks.

From Seattle Times