in gold-mining, the old river-bedupon which the wash-dirt rests, and upon which the richestalluvial gold is found; sometimes called the gutter.
1887. H. H. Hayter, `Christmas Adventure,' p. 5:
«We reached the bottom, but did not find gold.»
to get to the bedrock, or clay,below which it was useless to sink (gold-mining).
1858. T. McCombie, `History of Victoria,' c. xv. p. 219:
«In their anxiety to bottom their claims, they not seldom threwaway the richest stuff.»
Low land with a rich soil formed by alluvial deposits, and formerly the bottom or bed of a stream or...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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.