Slussens

Slussens is a Swedish genitive form derived from sluss, meaning a lock in a canal or river. In standard usage, slussen is the definite singular form meaning “the lock,” while slussens is the possessive form meaning “the lock’s” or “of the lock.” The plural for the structure is slussar (the locks). The word is used both in everyday language and in technical contexts to describe lock infrastructure and ownership.

A lock, or sluss in Swedish, is a hydraulic chamber on a waterway that allows vessels to pass between sections of water at different levels. A typical lock consists of a watertight chamber with gates at either end and control mechanisms for filling or emptying the chamber by valves or culverts. To operate, a vessel enters the chamber, the gates close, the water level is raised or lowered to match the next section, and then the opposite gates open to let the vessel continue.

Locks are essential components of inland water transport and are found on canals, rivers, and in harbor approaches in various countries. They enable navigation across elevation differences and contribute to the regulation of water flow and vessel traffic. The term slussen also appears in place names; for example, Slussen is a district in Stockholm historically associated with a lock and a canal interchange, a usage that reflects the historical importance of locks in urban waterway systems.