A hose appliance with one female inlet for 2 1/2 or larger hose and with three gated outlets is known as?

A hose appliance with one female inlet designed for 2 1/2-inch or larger hose and equipped with three gated outlets is referred to as a Water Thief. This appliance is specifically used in firefighting to allow a single water source to be divided into multiple streams, making it highly advantageous for scenarios where multiple hose lines need to be supplied from one source.

The structure of the Water Thief facilitates control over each outlet independently through gates, allowing firefighters to manage and direct water flow as needed. Its design ensures that the efficiency of water supply is maximized without compromising the necessary volume, which is critical in fire suppression operations.

In comparison, a Wye generally has two outlets rather than three and may not be able to provide the same level of distribution as a Water Thief when additional outlets are required. A Hydrant Valve functions primarily as a connection point to a fire hydrant, while a Deck Gun is a nozzle mounted on a fixed platform, usually on an apparatus, designed to deliver large volumes of water but does not serve the same function as a Water Thief. Thus, the Water Thief stands out as the correct identifier for this specific hose appliance configuration.