barrow pit


nounWestern U.S.
  1. a roadside borrow pit dug for drainage purposes.

Origin of barrow pit

1
Apparently in reference to the mound of earth dug from the pit (see barrow2); variants with bar perhaps from regional pronunciation of barrow
  • Also called bar pit, bar ditch.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024