Low land with a rich soil formed by alluvial deposits, and formerly the bottom or bed of a stream or lake. This is an old use of the word. Dr. Johnson defines it, a dale; a valley; a low ground.
He stood among the myrtle-trees that were in the bottom.--Zech. i. 8.
In the purleius stands a sheep-cote, west of this place, down in the neighboring bottom.--Shakspeare.
On both shores of that fruitful bottom, are still to be seen the marks of ancient edifices.--Addison on Italy.
Both the bottoms and the high grounds are alternately divided into wood lands and prairies.--Stoddard's Louisiana, p. 213.
I. n. in gold-mining, the old river-bedupon which the wash-dirt rests, and upon which the richesta...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
In the Western States, this name is given to the rich flat land on the banks of rivers, which in New...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.