gutter
n. countablen. a long, narrow channel that carries rainwater away from the roof of a building. It is usually fixed to the edge of the roof to keep water from damaging the walls.
n. a shallow trough fixed beneath the eaves of a roof for conveying rainwater to a downpipe. In a metaphorical sense, it refers to a low or degraded moral state.
The gutter is full of leaves after the storm.
Heavy rain caused the gutter to overflow, sending a sheet of water down the side of the house.
Neglecting to clear the gutter of debris can lead to significant structural damage as water seeps into the wooden fascia and eventually the interior walls.
From Middle English gutter, guttur, goter, from Anglo-Norman guttere, from Old French goutiere (French gouttière), ultimately from Latin gutta (“drop”).
From gut + -er.
Often used in the singular when referring to the metaphorical state of poverty or low morals ('in the gutter').