current wheel

Current \Cur"rent\, n. [Cf. F. courant. See {Current}, a. ]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. A flowing or passing; onward motion. Hence: A body of
      fluid moving continuously in a certain direction; a
      stream; esp., the swiftest part of it; as, a current of
      water or of air; that which resembles a stream in motion;
      as, a current of electricity.
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            Two such silver currents, when they join,
            Do glorify the banks that bound them in. --Shak.
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            The surface of the ocean is furrowed by currents,
            whose direction . . . the navigator should know.
                                                  --Nichol.
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   2. General course; ordinary procedure; progressive and
      connected movement; as, the current of time, of events, of
      opinion, etc.
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   {Current meter}, an instrument for measuring the velocity,
      force, etc., of currents.

   {Current mill}, a mill driven by a current wheel.

   {Current wheel}, a wheel dipping into the water and driven by
      the current of a stream or by the ebb and flow of the
      tide.

   Syn: Stream; course. See {Stream}.
        [1913 Webster]