WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Val"ley
Part of Speech : n.;
Etymology : [OE. vale, valeie, OF. val?e, valede, F. vall?e, LL. vallata, L. vallis, valles. See Vale.]
Definition : 1. The space inclosed between ranges of hills or mountains; the strip of land at the bottom of the depressions intersecting a country, including usually the bed of a stream, with frequently broad alluvial plains on one or both sides of the stream. Also used figuratively. The valley of the shadow of death. Ps. xxiii. 4. Sweet interchange Of hill and valley, rivers, woods, and plains. Milton.

Note: Deep and narrow valleys with abrupt sides are usually the results of erosion by water, and are called gorges, ravines, ca?ons, gulches, etc.

2. (Arch.) (a) The place of meeting of two slopes of a roof, which have their plates running in different directions, and form on the plan a re?ntrant angle. (b) The depression formed by the meeting of two slopes on a flat roof. Valley board (Arch.), a board for the reception of the lead gutter in the valley of a roof. The valley board and lead gutter are not usual in the United States. -- Valley rafter, or Valley piece (Arch.), the rafter which supports the valley. -- Valley roof (Arch.), a roof having one or more valleys. See Valley, 2, above.

pl. Valleys.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913