A watershed.
1807. Struck and passed the divide between the Grand river and the Verdegris river.—Z. M. Pike, ‘Sources of the Mississippi’ (1810), ii. 136. (N.E.D.)
1817. We arrived at the head of the creek, and came to what is called a dividing ridge. (Note.) A term given to any elevation that separates the head waters of one creek from those of another.—John Bradbury, ‘Travels,’ p. 60.
1869. There are vast fields of gold over the Yellowstone divide.—A. K. McClure, ‘Rocky Mountains,’ p. 269.
1878. It took me all the next day to pass the “divide,” for the lowest point on the ridge is 2,000 feet above Central, and the descent still greater on the northern side.—J. H. Beadle, ‘Western Wilds,’ p. 168.
1878. Roseburg is south of the “divide,” and on the slope towards the Klamath.—Id., p. 398.
1885. Divide after divide stretched before us, like the illimitable waves of a great white sea.—Mrs. Custer, ‘Boots and Saddles,’ p. 259 (N.Y.).
1888. Oh, how hard it was for me to see them at that time, when starting with despatches to my husband, swing themselves into the saddle and disappear over the divide!—The same, ‘Tenting on the Plains,’ p. 624.
1890. In any descent, therefore, the buffalo gained on his pursuer, but in the ascent of the divide the horse was superior, and often caught up with the groaning, puffing, laboring buffalo.—The same, ‘Following the Guidon,’ p. 268 (N.Y.).
*** See also Appendix XVII.
