Currituck Sound

Why are certain small bodies of water called 'sounds?'

Before doing any reporting on Currituck Sound, I had to answer the most basic of questions: just what is a sound? 

It turns out there are a couple of ways to define a sound. 

One type of sound is a relatively narrow passage of water between the mainland and an island. It's also an inlet, bay or recessed portion of the ocean. Currituck Sound certainly fits those definitions. So does Pamlico Sound, as well as Puget Sound in Washington.