[f. CATCH v. + -MENT.] = CATCHING; appropriated to the catching and collection of the rainfall over a natural drainage area, in catchment basin, area.
1847. J. Dwyer, Hydr. Engineer., 19. A great portion of the catchment basin is very little raised above the level of the lake.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 34, note. The catchment-basin is a term applied to all that part of a river-basin from which rain is collected, and from which therefore the river is fed.
1881. Times, 3 Feb., 9/4 We have … eleven [rivers] with catchment basins exceeding a thousand square miles.
1885. Blackw. Mag., Jan., 109/1. A vast catchment-area of encircling rock.
