The usage of the word "aqueduct" in American English is broader than the meaning of the word in British English.
Cambridge dictionaries defines the noun as "a structure for carrying water across land, especially one like a high bridge with many arches that carries pipes or a canal across a valley" - https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/aqueduct Oxford dictionaries: Noun "1. An artificial channel for conveying water, typically in the form of a bridge across a valley or other gap." "2. A small duct in the body containing fluid." But in the USA the word is alway used for long canals and tunnels designed to carry water to a city or for irrigation: Merriam-Webster (one of the better-researched American English dictionaries): 1 a: a conduit for water especially : one for carrying a large quantity of flowing water b : a structure for conveying a canal over a river or hollow 2 : a canal or passage in a part or organ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aqueduct So in US and British English it's possible to use "aqueduct" to describe a bridge that carries a canal or other artificial waterway over a river or road. This is already a tag: bridge=aqueduct. In this case "aque-duct" is similar to "via-duct", but carrying water rather than a road: Merriam-Webster: "a long elevated roadway usually consisting of a series of short spans supported on arches, piers, or columns" Cambridge: "a long, high bridge, usually held up by many arches, that carries a railway or a road over a valley:" Oxford: "A long bridge-like structure, typically a series of arches, carrying a road or railway across a valley or other low ground." Is there a better word than "aqueduct" that could be used to tag an artificial waterway that transports useful water from one place to another for irrigation, drinking water, or industrial usage, but is not constructed like a canal or pipeline? I still feel uncomfortable using the word "canal" for small waterways: the basic meaning of the word "canal" seems to imply a navigable waterway, just as a "river" is wide enough for a small boat, in contrast with a stream, but perhaps this is specific to my dialect? Can anyone show an example of an English waterway that is called a "canal" locally but is less than 2 meters wide, or 1 meter wide? On 5/31/19, John Willis via Tagging <tagging@openstreetmap.org> wrote: > >> On May 30, 2019, at 11:53 PM, Martin Koppenhoefer <dieterdre...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >> Am Do., 30. Mai 2019 um 16:03 Uhr schrieb Mateusz Konieczny >> <matkoni...@tutanota.com <mailto:matkoni...@tutanota.com>>: >> 30 May 2019, 15:00 by fl.infosrese...@gmail.com >> <mailto:fl.infosrese...@gmail.com>: >> Why does aqueduct have to be above ground level? >> Maybe because one of main meanings of this word is >> "bridge to convey water over an obstacle, such as a ravine or valley"? >> >> >> the meaning of the term "aqueduct" is "leading water". Usually bridges are >> only constructed where they are needed, > > yep. > > I think this is truly a matter of what you are familiar with first. > > Growing up in California, the only usage of the word aqueduct I ever heard > referred to the Califorina aquaduct from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and > it is a giant trench dug in the ground and (now) lined with concrete. it > obviously has other features (pumps and pipes to go over the mountains), but > the iconic images of it everyone thinks of is the water in the trench next > to interstate. 5. califorina has 3 major aqueduct systems, all to move water > to Southern California. > > I learned about all the roman aqueducts and so forth much much later on TV, > and they always showed the bridges and the tunnels to make some fountain > work in Rome. > > https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/aqueducts-move-water-past-and-today?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects > <https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/aqueducts-move-water-past-and-today?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects> > > here, the USGS shows a section of the Califorina aqueduct and a picture of > an old Roman aqueduct (bridge), showing how some people equate any structure > for conveying a supply of water from one area to another for the purpose of > using / drinking the water as “an aqueduct” > > This is teaching materials for classrooms. > > the aqueducts I map in Japan usually have long at-grade open-air sections, > pipe or open-top bridges, and lots of tunnels - similar to a "roman > aqueduct” as I understand them. > > > Javbw _______________________________________________ Tagging mailing list Tagging@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/tagging
