DCHP-1 Online
detroit [< Cdn F < F; cf. étroit narrow] Obs. 
1 n. narrows; a strait.
- 1793 (1933) . . . we camped at the petit detroit about three P.M. to wait the canoes behind.
- 1833 (1835) The canoe was immediately carried to its stream, which is narrow in some parts, and connected with a chain of small lakes by detroits and rapids.
- 1853 Weather warm and thawing--come on well--campd detroit Lac Mac-ca-coise--still very ill.
2 n. specifically, the strait between Lakes Erie and Huron.
- 1768-82 (1904) The Detroit is so called from being a strait between Lake Erie, and Lake Huron. . . .
- 1789 (1905) Mr. McNiff [is] to lay out a range of Townships . . . commencing . . . at the centre of Long Point in Lake Erie and moving on round the Lake towards the Detroit.
- 1793 (1933) . . . we camped at the petit detroit about three P.M. to wait the canoes behind.