freshet Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the occurrence of a water flow resulting from sudden rain or melting snow
    spate.

WordNet

Fresh"et noun
Etymology
OE. fresche flood + -et. See Fresh, a.
Definitions
  1. A stream of fresh water. Obs. Milton.
  2. A flood or overflowing of a stream caused by heavy rains or melted snow; a sudden inundation.
    Cracked the sky, as ice in rivers When the freshet is at highest. Longfellow.

Webster 1913