Debouch

Part of Speech

Verb

Pronunciation

/dɪˈbuːʃ/ (British English)

/dɪˈbaʊtʃ/ (American English)

Definitions

1. (Of a river, road, or passage) to emerge or open out from a confined space into a wider area.
2. (Military) To march out from a narrow or confined space into open ground.

Usage Examples

• "The river debouches into the sea at the delta."
• "The troops debouched from the valley onto the open plains."

Etymology

From French deboucher, meaning "to emerge," derived from de- (out of) and bouche (mouth).

Synonyms

• Emerging
• Flow out
• Exit
• Issue
• Open out

Antonyms

• Enter
• Converge
• Inflow
• Withdraw

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• British English: /dɪˈbuːʃ/
• American English: /dɪˈbaʊtʃ/
• Canadian English: /dɪˈbuːʃ/

Historical Usage

The term "debouch" has been used in military strategy since the 17th century to describe troops emerging from narrow defiles or passes onto open ground.

Cultural Nuances

In geographical contexts, "debouch" is frequently used in hydrology to describe rivers emerging from gorges into wider areas. In military parlance, it signifies a tactical maneuver.

More Information

"Debouch" is primarily used in formal or technical language, often appearing in military, geographical, and literary descriptions rather than everyday speech.