freshet

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

freshet
    n 1: the occurrence of a water flow resulting from sudden rain
         or melting snow [syn: {freshet}, {spate}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Freshet \Fresh"et\, n. [OE. fresche flood + -et. See {Fresh},
   a.]
   1. A stream of fresh water. [Obs.] --Milton.
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   2. A flood or overflowing of a stream caused by heavy rains
      or melted snow; a sudden inundation.
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            Cracked the sky, as ice in rivers
            When the freshet is at highest.       --Longfellow.
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