Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Valley?

\Val"ley\, n.; pl. {Valleys}. [OE. vale, valeie, OF. val['e]e, valede, F. vall['e]e, LL. vallata, L. vallis, valles. See {Vale}.] 1. The space inclosed between ranges of hills or mountains; the strip of land at the bottom of the depressions intersecting a country, including usually the bed of a stream, with frequently broad alluvial plains on one or both sides of the stream. Also used figuratively. The valley of the shadow of death. --Ps. xxiii. 4. Sweet interchange Of hill and valley, rivers, woods, and plains. --Milton. Note: Deep and narrow valleys with abrupt sides are usually the results of erosion by water, and are called {gorges}, {ravines}, {ca[~n]ons}, {gulches}, etc. 2. (Arch.) (a) The place of meeting of two slopes of a roof, which have their plates running in different directions, and form on the plan a re["e]ntrant angle. (b) The depression formed by the meeting of two slopes on a flat roof. {Valley board} (Arch.), a board for the reception of the lead gutter in the valley of a roof. The valley board and lead gutter are not usual in the United States. {Valley rafter}, or {Valley piece} (Arch.), the rafter which supports the valley. {Valley roof} (Arch.), a roof having one or more valleys. See {Valley}, 2, above.