streambed

From stream +‎ bed. Compare Dutch stroombed (“channel, streambed”), German Strombett (“channel”), Swedish strömbädd (“gully, ditch”).

streambed (plural streambeds)

1. A channel through which a stream flows or used to flow.
   • 2007 April 1, Thomas Harlan, The Shadow of Ararat: Book One of 'The Oath of Empire'‎, page 294:

     Thirty feet below her, where the Persians were crashing through the brush, the streambed kinked to the left side of the ravine and ran under an enormous thorn tree with a thick base.

   • 2007 November 7, Felicity Barringer, “Private Efforts to Preserve the Coast”, in New York Times‎:

     The easement restricts construction and will keep cattle mostly away from sensitive streambeds.

• creek bed