distributary

adj

1. That distributes.

   “A posthumous child is as much entitled to a distributary share, under the statute of distributions, as one that is born at the time of the death of its father […]”

   “[…] improving the channels in a distributary unit.”

   “These deposits are commonly punctuated by metre-scale fining-upward, medium-grained, cross-bedded sandstones, interpreted as terminal distributary channels.”

noun

1. A stream of water (either natural or artificial) that branches off and flows away from a main stream channel.

   “The bed of the distributary is at a slight elevation above that of the main canal, and in the latter is placed an ordinary check regulator controlled by flashboards […]”

   “The physical condition of the distributary itself is in bad shape due to poor maintenance over longer periods of time, especially in the head reach.”

   “[…] stretches of blowing sand and frequent changes in course of its distributaries, does not have the dense population characteristic of other alluvial districts in the Indian subcontinent.”