sump

plural sumps · alternative obsolete sumph

1. A hollow or pit into which liquid drains, such as a cesspool, cesspit or sink.
2. The lowest part of a mineshaft into which water drains.
3. A completely flooded cave passage, sometimes passable by diving.
4. automotiveThe crankcase or oil reservoir of an internal combustion engine.
5. nauticalThe pit at the lowest point in a circulating or drainage system (FM 55-501).
6. businessAn intentional depression around a drain or scupper that promotes drainage.
7. ScotlandA sudden or heavy fall of rain; a deluge.

   "Me and the lads did it this morn." "It was pouring!" Brody said. "If I was tae stop an activity because of a sump o' rain, I'd never get anythin' done," Finn remarked with a twinkle in his eye.

   2024 January 23, Traci Hall, Murder at a Scottish Castle, Kensington Cozies, →ISBN, page 12

   1 more example

   then, seating himself thus, he replied to him of the east.—'Sounding sump o' rain Saunders Creeshmeloof—saw ye ever a drap o' rain for eight and forty hours after the bonnie sinking sun that sat sae red and sae lang on the summit of Blackwood hills this blessed afternoon? That starry plow o' thine is […]'

   1821, “Mark Macrabin, the Cameronian”, in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, page 147

present singular third person sumps · participle present sumping · participle past sumped · past sumped · alternative obsolete sumph

1. intransitiveOf a cave passage, to end in a sump, or to fill completely with water on occasion.

   This low passage sumps quickly after moderate rainfall.

   1 more example

   We discovered a new passage, but it sumped after 100 metres.