puit

noun

1. (obsolete)A well; a small stream; a fountain; a spring.

   “Further on is a puit or pit, bored in the last century, in search of salt; and then smaller reservoirs, with the blasting holes.”

   “And then a quarter of an hour later she would say, whilst explaining to a French party: “ There were 800 English and 200 French found at the bottom of the puit at the finish of that terrible day, mesdames et messieurs."”

   “Cross the ravine, and a further 10 mins. across the plain see trees on the R. These trees mark the site of the puit ( well ) at El Mersse.”

2. An insectivorous shore bird, the brown-headed gull.

   “But these pirates are always successful, as are the rats, who steal at dead of night upon the eggs, devouring them; for your rat is a deadly enemy to the puit, and many another bird besides.”