acequia
noun
ace·quia ə-ˈsā-kē-ə 
ä-
Southwestern US
: an irrigation ditch or canal
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Human artifacts dating more than 10,000 years have been found at Brackenridge, and an acequia was built there in the 1720s to irrigate crops at the Mission San Antonio de Valero. 
Scott Huddleston, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Nov. 2021 In a good year, his acequia can water homes from spring through mid-October. Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Sep. 2021 Even then, the acequia reflected the blending of cultural traditions. New York Times, 13 July 2021 Outdoor space: The property has water rights to the acequia, or community watercourse, that runs through it, supporting a lush collection of fruit trees and shrubs and a vegetable garden. Julie Lasky, New York Times, 6 May 2020 Because of the park’s historical uses, including an earlier 1700s acequia, archaeological studies will have to be done before trees are planted. Scott Huddleston, ExpressNews.com, 8 Dec. 2019 Also included are repairs to walls of an 1870s acequia; two monument signs; lighting and parking upgrades; and the addition of more than 200 trees. Scott Huddleston, ExpressNews.com, 8 Dec. 2019 Though the acequia has long been unused, a pathway of rocks was embedded in the new building to outline its route, starting near a 300-year-old tree that officials preserved during construction. Brooke Lamantia, ExpressNews.com, 10 July 2019 Sculley and Treviño counter that the historic interpretation of the Alamo footprint, including lowering the surface by 16 inches and replication of an old acequia, would preclude vehicle access on Alamo Street. Scott Huddleston, San Antonio Express-News, 8 July 2018 See More
Scott Huddleston, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Nov. 2021 In a good year, his acequia can water homes from spring through mid-October. Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Sep. 2021 Even then, the acequia reflected the blending of cultural traditions. New York Times, 13 July 2021 Outdoor space: The property has water rights to the acequia, or community watercourse, that runs through it, supporting a lush collection of fruit trees and shrubs and a vegetable garden. Julie Lasky, New York Times, 6 May 2020 Because of the park’s historical uses, including an earlier 1700s acequia, archaeological studies will have to be done before trees are planted. Scott Huddleston, ExpressNews.com, 8 Dec. 2019 Also included are repairs to walls of an 1870s acequia; two monument signs; lighting and parking upgrades; and the addition of more than 200 trees. Scott Huddleston, ExpressNews.com, 8 Dec. 2019 Though the acequia has long been unused, a pathway of rocks was embedded in the new building to outline its route, starting near a 300-year-old tree that officials preserved during construction. Brooke Lamantia, ExpressNews.com, 10 July 2019 Sculley and Treviño counter that the historic interpretation of the Alamo footprint, including lowering the surface by 16 inches and replication of an old acequia, would preclude vehicle access on Alamo Street. Scott Huddleston, San Antonio Express-News, 8 July 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Spanish, borrowed from Arabic al-sāqiya, from al, definite article (here as- by assimilation to the following s) + sāqiya "irrigation ditch," from feminine active participle of saqā "to give to drink, irrigate"
First Known Use
1811, in the meaning defined above
acequia
noun
as in culvert
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- culvert
- ravine
- gully
- gulley
- ditch
- trench
- drain
- dike
- fosse
- gutter
- trough
- furrow
- foss
- moat
- draw
- sheugh
- drill
- sunk fence
- ha-ha
- stank
- kennel
