The Collaborative International Dictionary
Overwash \O`ver*wash"\, v. t.
To overflow.
--Holinshed.
Wiktionary
n. The flow of water and sediment over the crest of a beach that does not directly return to the water body. vb. (context transitive English) To wash too much or too often.
Wikipedia
Overwash is the flow of water and sediment over a coastal dune or beach crest during storm events (or other sitations with high water). Overwash is a common process on barrier islands. There are two kinds of overwash: overwash by runup and overwash by inundation. In the fields of coastal geology and geomorphology, 'overwash' refers to a landward flux of sediment due to overtopping of a dune system.
Washover is the sediment deposited inland of a beach by overwash. Washover can be deposited onto the berm crest or as far as the back barrier bay, estuary, or lagoon.
The amount of overwash and washover sedimentation depends on the characteristcis of the storm and the setting — human habitat tends to reduce in the amount of sand deposited on a barrier island during overwash leading to impacts on barrier island evolution.
Usage examples of "overwash".
He wished now to report upon this fell encounter with a feather duster, a Siamese cat, a spoiled Pekingese, and three others gone ghastly frail from undereating and overwashing.
This boy had an overwashed look, as if he had been soaked and dried too many times rained on and worn, like a small tired flag.
Fanatical likers can go too far in musical worship, losing their own identity as they attempt to emulate their target, overwashing all aspects of their lives with the target, until they either crack or decide to take a revolver and go shoot at the target.