Niagara

English

Etymology

From an Iroquoian language; compare Mohawk ohnyá:kara' (“neck of land”). The name of the tribe which resided in the area was recorded on early maps as Onguiarahronon or Niagagarega.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /naɪˈæɡ(ə)ɹə/

Proper noun

Niagara

1. A river (the Niagara River) which flows from Lake Erie, over Niagara Falls into Lake Ontario; the geographical region of the United States and Canada in proximity to this river.
2. A ghost town in British Columbia, Canada.
3. A regional municipality on the Niagara Peninsula, southern Ontario, Canada, colloquially known as the Niagara Region.
4. A ghost town in the Shire of Menzies, Goldfields-Esperance region, Western Australia.
5. A town in New York.
6. A city and village in North Dakota.
7. A city and town in Wisconsin.
8. (metonymically) The Niagara Falls.

Noun

Niagara (plural Niagaras)

1. (figuratively) A flood, torrent, or outpouring, especially one of massive proportions.
   • 1883, The Pretty Women of Paris, page 102:

     [A] veritable Niagara of loose flesh when her stays are unlaced.

   • 1896, H. G. Wells, chapter 37, in The Wheels of Chance:

     "We're gaining," said Mr. Hoopdriver, with a little Niagara of perspiration dropping from brow to cheek.

   • 1909, Ralph Henry Barbour, chapter 23, in The Half-Back:

     It was useless to try and drown that Niagara of sound.

   • 1943 September and October, T. Lovatt Williams, “Some Reminiscences of the Footplate—II”, in Railway Magazine, page 272:

     A great torrent of water was flung along the boiler and came streaming over the cab roof like a young Niagara.

2. A Niagara grape.
   • 1950, Peter John Valaer, Wines of the world:

     The basic material for sherry is a mixture or a blend of dry wines from Niagaras, Delawares, and Catawbas or other white juices, which are sweetened and fortified and then blended with California sherry.

   • 2004, Dan Lynch, Hustlers, heroes and hooligans: reporting on the New York experience:

     During the past 25 years, New York wineries have moved away from Niagaras and Delawares and begun producing world-class wines from European grapes and specially cultured hybrids and varietals.

Synonyms

• deluge

Verb

Niagara (third-person singular simple present Niagaras, present participle Niagaraing, simple past and past participle Niagaraed)

1. To flood; to pour in a torrent.
   • 1943, MotorBoating (volume 71, number 1, page 134)

     […] water deluged into the cockpit and Niagaraed into the bilge. Only constant use of the pump kept the floorboards from going adrift.

   • 1996, Kathy Lette, Mad Cows

     The milk Niagaraed on to her feet.

Derived terms

• Niagara County
• Niagara Falls
• Niagara grape
• Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Niagara River

Anagrams

• Angaria, angaria

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /nja.ɡa.ʁa/

Proper noun

Niagara m (uncountable)

1. Niagara River

Proper noun

Niagara f pl (plural only)

1. Niagara Falls

Synonyms

• chutes du Niagara f pl

Derived terms

• niagaresque