A vocabulary of landscape — a landscape of words
1068 entries
pucker
In whitewater, a compression of current where water is squeezed between obstructions — rocks, bridge piers, canyon walls — accelerating and often forming a V-shaped tongue of smooth water pointing downstream. Paddlers read the pucker to find the deepest, fastest, cleanest line through a rapid. Also, outdoor culture slang for a visceral fear response.
Etymology
Probably from poke or pock (a bag, pouch), of Germanic origin. The sense is of gathering into wrinkles or folds, like the mouth of a drawn bag.