cutwaters

/ˈkʌtˌwɔtərz/
noun
  1. The forward part of a ship's bow that cuts through the water.
    • Engineers inspected the cutwaters for damage after the long voyage.
    • The ship's cutwaters were reinforced with steel to break through ice.
    • The old wooden vessel had a carved figurehead just above the cutwaters.
  2. A wedge-shaped structure on a bridge pier that deflects water and debris.
    • During the flood, the cutwaters helped channel debris away from the bridge supports.
    • The stone bridge had cutwaters on each pier to protect against strong currents.
    • The architect designed sharp cutwaters to reduce the force of the river on the bridge.
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