What type of appliance is similar to a gated wye but has three discharge openings?

The correct response represents a specific adapter used in firefighting equipment. The water thief is designed to allow for the connection of multiple hoses to a single water source, facilitating the distribution of water to different areas during an incident. It typically features three discharge openings, enabling multiple engine connect points or hose lines to operate simultaneously.

This contrasts with a gated wye, which usually has two discharge openings and can control the flow to each line separately. While a bifurcated connection and crossover connection serve distinct purposes in connecting hoses, they do not specifically match the configuration and functionality of having three discharge points like a water thief does. A double wye resembles a water thief in its multi-discharge capability but specifically refers to a fitting that provides two lines, not three. Therefore, the water thief is the correct choice for this specific configuration and functionality.