Meaning of sandpipe | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A pipe conveying sand, as in a steam locomotive, where it deposits sand directly in front of the driving wheels to aid traction.
2. A perpendicular cylindrical hollow, tapering to a point, occurring in chalk deposits, and usually filled with sand, gravel, or clay.

Examples

“In the modified locomotive, the leading sanding gear is restored and the sandpipes which formerly led to the trailing coupled wheels are reversed to provide⟳ sanding behind the driving wheels for rearward running.”

“Some of the enormous fragments of chalk which are interstratified with drift have⟳ not only layers of undisturbed flints, but also sandpipes in the middle of them, or cylindrical cavities filled with sand and gravel […]”

CEFR level