spring tide

plural spring tides

1. The tide which occurs when the moon is new or full; the effects of the Sun and moon being reinforced so that this tide is of maximum range.

   Spring tides at Chepstow rise 40 ft., and there is a rapid current except for a very short time.

   1952 September, “Chepstow River Bridge Centenary”, in Railway Magazine, page 623

   1 more example

   During the day conditions worsened quickly—for example, a 2-6-0 on the Uckfield line suddenly encountered flood water high enough to enter its ashpan and extinguish its fire—until lock gates up-river at Barcombe gave way and a tidal wave rolled down the valley meeting head-on a spring tide rolling up from the coast.

   1961 January, “Talking of Trains: Flooding at Lewes”, in Trains Illustrated, page 5

   Synonyms: leap tide