Why do they call it a pothole?
Why do they call it a pothole?
Anxious for a cheap source of raw materials for making clay pots, the potters would dig into the deep ruts to reach clay deposits underneath. Teamsters driving wagons and coaches over those roads knew who and what caused these holes and referred to them as “potholes.”
What constitutes a pothole?
Most people have encountered a pothole, either as a road user or pedestrian. Potholes are ‘a depression or hollow in a road surface caused by wear or subsidence’. They are, very simply, parts of a road surface that have become damaged over time through cracking or wear.
What is another word for pothole?
What is another word for pothole?
| dint | dent |
|---|---|
| pockmark | gouge |
| pit | disfigure |
| hollow | make an indentation in |
| furrow | dimple |
What’s the difference between a pothole and a chuck hole?
Merriam-Webster defines a pothole as a “pot-shaped hole in a road surface,” while chuckhole is defined as “a hole or rut in a road.” Clearly both apply here. Somehow the word pothole began to surface (pun intended) into the Hoosier lexicon. “Only podunks call potholes chuckholes.
When was the first pothole?
It was first applied to roads in the 1880s, a generation before vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines began to displace horses from our streets.
Can potholes be prevented?
Most potholes can be prevented by using preservation treatments early on before severe distresses are formed. Sealing cracks in a pavement is the most important step in preventing potholes.
Why are potholes bad?
Besides immediate body damage from dipping into the pavement, hitting a pothole can cause a lot of expensive mechanical problems. Potholes are a large culprit when it comes to bent wheels. Bent wheels can give you a rough driving experience, and they often fail to hold enough air pressure to safely drive.
How do you prevent potholes?
- Check Tires. Frequently inspect your tires to ensure they are properly inflated and do not have significant wear.
- Inspect Suspension. Make certain struts, shock absorbers and other suspension parts are in good condition.
- Look Ahead. Stay alert and check the road ahead to avoid potholes.
- Slow Down.
- Beware of Puddles.
How many potholes are in the US?
1. There are an estimated 55 million potholes in the U.S.
What do you call a large pothole?
Drivers hate potholes because the little bump is startling, and a big pothole could actually damage a car. Eventually, potholes are usually filled in when a road gets paved. Potholes are also called chuckholes.
How are potholes repaired?
Heating the hole removes any extra moisture that may be in the existing pavement and also softens the area so the new asphalt can be applied. The pothole hole can also be reshaped once it is softened and old asphalt can be removed or rejuvenated. Add the new asphalt. Typically, hot mix asphalt is used for this repair.
Do potholes cause traffic?
While potholes are a financial worry for many people, these breaks in the pavement can also cause ongoing traffic congestion and create an environment that is not safe for oncoming traffic.
What does the name pothole mean?
– A shallow pit or other edged depression in a road’s surface, especially when caused by erosion by weather or traffic. – A pit formed in the bed of a turbulent stream. – (geology) A vertical cave system, often found in limestone. – (archaeology) A pit resulting from unauthorized excavation by treasure hunters or vandals.
Why is a pothole called a pothole?
The word “pothole” can be split into two distinct morphemes. The first part being “pot,” a word derived from Middle English that means “a deep hole,” and the second part being “hole,” which maintains the same meaning today, that is, a hollowness in the ground.
What does pothole mean?
Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition: Pothole. A pothole is a type of disruption in the surface of a roadway where a portion of the road material has broken away, leaving a hole.
What causes a pothole to form?
The main causes of potholes are: Potholes formed by cold weather are caused by the effect of a freeze followed by thaw. Over time, rain causes the road to become cracked and water can seep through the gaps in the surface which, when it gets cold, will form ice.
