Chapter 1868

Anchor watch (Naut.) , a detail of one or more men who keep watch on deck when a vessel is at anchor. -- To be on the watch , to be looking steadily for some event. -- Watch and ward (Law) , the charge or care of certain officers to keep a watch by night and a guard by day in towns, cities, and other districts, for the preservation of the public peace. Wharton. Burrill . -- Watch and watch (Naut.) , the regular alternation in being on watch and off watch of the two watches into which a ship's crew is commonly divided. -- Watch barrel , the brass box in a watch, containing the mainspring. -- Watch bell (Naut.) , a bell struck when the half-hour glass is run out, or at the end of each half hour. Craig . -- Watch bill (Naut.) , a list of the officers and crew of a ship as divided into watches, with their stations. Totten . -- Watch case , the case, or outside covering, of a watch; also, a case for holding a watch, or in which it is kept. -- Watch chain . Same as watch guard , below. -- Watch clock , a watchman's clock; see under Watchman . -- Watch fire , a fire lighted at night, as a signal, or for the use of a watch or guard. -- Watch glass . (a) A concavo-convex glass for covering the face, or dial, of a watch; -- also called watch crystal . (b) (Naut.) A half-hour glass used to measure the time of a watch on deck. <-- (c) (Chem.) A round concavo-convex glass of shallow depth used for certain manipulations of chemicals in a laboratory. --> -- Watch guard , a chain or cord by which a watch is attached to the person. -- Watch gun (Naut.) , a gun sometimes fired on shipboard at 8 p. m., when the night watch begins. -- Watch light , a low-burning lamp used by watchers at night; formerly, a candle having a rush wick. -- Watch night , The last night of the year; -- so called by the Methodists, Moravians, and others, who observe it by holding religious meetings lasting until after midnight. -- Watch paper , an old-fashioned ornament for the inside of a watch case, made of paper cut in some fanciful design, as a vase with flowers, etc. -- Watch tackle (Naut.) , a small, handy purchase, consisting of a tailed double block, and a single block with a hook.

Watch <Xpage=1630>

Watch (?) , v. i. [Cf. AS. w&oe;ccan , wacian . &root;134. See Watch , n. , Wake , v. i. ]

1. To be awake; to be or continue without sleep; to wake; to keep vigil.

I have two nights watched with you. Shak.

Couldest thou not watch one hour ? Mark xiv. 37.

2. To be attentive or vigilant; to give heed; to be on the lookout; to keep guard; to act as sentinel.

Take ye heed, watch and pray. Mark xiii. 33.

The Son gave signal high To the bright minister that watched . Milton.

3. To be expectant; to look with expectation; to wait; to seek opportunity.

My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning. Ps. cxxx. 6.

4. To remain awake with any one as nurse or attendant; to attend on the sick during the night; as, to watch with a man in a fever .

5. (Naut.) To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating properly in its place; -- said of a buoy.

To watch over , to be cautiously observant of; to inspect, superintend, and guard.

Watch <Xpage=1630>

Watch , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Watched (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Watching .]

1. To give heed to; to observe the actions or motions of, for any purpose; to keep in view; not to lose from sight and observation; as, to watch the progress of a bill in the legislature .

Saul also sent messengers unto David's house to watch him, and to slay him. 1 Sam. xix. 11

I must cool a little, and watch my opportunity. Landor.

In lazy mood I watched the little circles die. Longfellow.

2. To tend; to guard; to have in keeping.

And flaming ministers, to watch and tend Their earthy charge. Milton.

Paris watched the flocks in the groves of Ida. Broome.

<page="1631"> Page 1631

Watchdog <Xpage=1631>

Watch"dog` (?) , n. A dog kept to watch and guard premises or property, and to give notice of the approach of intruders.

Watcher <Xpage=1631>

Watch"er (?) , n. One who watches; one who sits up or continues; a diligent observer; specifically, one who attends upon the sick during the night.

Watches <Xpage=1631>

Watch"es (?) , n. pl. (Bot.) The leaves of Sarace<?/ia flava . See Trumpets .

Watch</</</ <Xpage=1631>

Watch<?/<?/<?/ (?) , a. [Probably from F. vaciet bilberry, whortleberry; cf. L. vaccinium blueberry, whortleberry.] Pale or light blue. [Obs.] " Watchet mantles."

Spenser.

Who stares in Germany at watchet eyes? Dryden.

Watchful <Xpage=1631>

Watch"ful (?) , a. Full of watch; vigilant; attentive; careful to observe closely; observant; cautious; -- with of before the thing to be regulated or guarded; as, to be watchful of one's behavior; and with against before the thing to be avoided; as, to be watchful against the growth of vicious habits . "Many a watchful night." Shak . "Happy watchful shepherds." Milton .

'Twixt prayer and watchful love his heart dividing. Keble.

Syn. -- Vigilant; attentive; cautious; observant; circumspect; wakeful; heedful.

-- Watch"ful*ly , adv. -- Watch"ful*ness , n.

Watchhouse <Xpage=1631>

Watch"house` (?) , n. ; pl. Watchhouses (<?/) .

1. A house in which a watch or guard is placed.

2. A place where persons under temporary arrest by the police of a city are kept; a police station; a lockup.

Watchmaker <Xpage=1631>

Watch"mak`er (?) , n. One whose occupation is to make and repair watches.

Watchman <Xpage=1631>

Watch"man (?) , n. ; pl. Watchmen (<?/) .

1. One set to watch; a person who keeps guard; a guard; a sentinel.

2. Specifically, one who guards a building, or the streets of a city, by night.

Watchman beetle (Zo\'94l.) , the European dor. -- Watchman's clock , a watchman's detector in which the apparatus for recording the times of visiting several stations is contained within a single clock. -- Watchman's detector , &or; Watchman's time detector , an apparatus for recording the time when a watchman visits a station on his rounds. -- Watchman's rattle , an instrument having at the end of a handle a revolving arm, which, by the action of a strong spring upon cogs, produces, when in motion, a loud, harsh, rattling sound.

Watchtower <Xpage=1631>

Watch"tow`er (?) , n. A tower in which a sentinel is placed to watch for enemies, the approach of danger, or the like.

Watchword <Xpage=1631>

Watch"word` (?) , n. 1. A word given to sentinels, and to such as have occasion to visit the guards, used as a signal by which a friend is known from an enemy, or a person who has a right to pass the watch from one who has not; a countersign; a password.

2. A sentiment or motto; esp., one used as a rallying cry or a signal for action.

Nor deal in watchwords overmuch. Tennyson.

Water <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter (?) , n. [AS. w\'91ter ; akin to OS. watar , OFries. wetir , weter , LG. & D. water , G. wasser , OHG. wazzar , Icel. vatn , Sw. vatten , Dan. vand , Goth. wat<?/ , O. Slav. & Russ. voda , Gr. <?/, Skr. udan water, ud to wet, and perhaps to L. unda wave. <?/<?/<?/<?/. Cf. Dropsy , Hydra , Otter , Wet , Whisky .]

1. The fluid which descends from the clouds in rain, and which forms rivers, lakes, seas, etc. "We will drink water ." Shak ."Powers of fire, air, water , and earth." Milton .

&hand; Pure water consists of hydrogen and oxygen, H2O , and is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, transparent liquid, which is very slightly compressible. At its maximum density, 39&deg; Fahr. or 4&deg; C., it is the standard for specific gravities, one cubic centimeter weighing one gram. It freezes at 32&deg; Fahr. or 0&deg; C. and boils at 212&deg; Fahr. or 100&deg; C. (see Ice , Steam ). It is the most important natural solvent, and is frequently impregnated with foreign matter which is mostly removed by distillation; hence, rain water is nearly pure. It is an important ingredient in the tissue of animals and plants, the human body containing about two thirds its weight of water.

2. A body of water, standing or flowing; a lake, river, or other collection of water.

Remembering he had passed over a small water a poor scholar when first coming to the university, he kneeled. Fuller.

3. Any liquid secretion, humor, or the like, resembling water; esp., the urine.

4. (Pharm.) A solution in water of a gaseous or readily volatile substance; as, ammonia water .

U. S. Pharm.

5. The limpidity and luster of a precious stone, especially a diamond; as, a diamond of the first water , that is, perfectly pure and transparent . Hence, of the first water , that is, of the first excellence.

6. A wavy, lustrous pattern or decoration such as is imparted to linen, silk, metals, etc. See Water , v. t. , 3, Damask , v. t. , and Damaskeen .

7. An addition to the shares representing the capital of a stock company so that the aggregate par value of the shares is increased while their value for investment is diminished, or "diluted." [Brokers' Cant]

&hand; Water is often used adjectively and in the formation of many self-explaining compounds; as, water drainage; water gauge, or water -gauge; water fowl, water -fowl, or water fowl; water -beaten; water -borne, water -circled, water -girdled, water -rocked, etc.

Hard water . See under Hard . -- Inch of water , a unit of measure of quantity of water, being the quantity which will flow through an orifice one inch square, or a circular orifice one inch in diameter, in a vertical surface, under a stated constant head; also called miner's inch , and water inch . The shape of the orifice and the head vary in different localities. In the Western United States, for hydraulic mining, the standard aperture is square and the head from 4 to 9 inches above its center. In Europe, for experimental hydraulics, the orifice is usually round and the head from <frac1x12/ of an inch to 1 inch above its top. -- Mineral water , waters which are so impregnated with foreign ingredients, such as gaseous, sulphureous, and saline substances, as to give them medicinal properties, or a particular flavor or temperature. -- Soft water , water not impregnated with lime or mineral salts. -- To hold water . See under Hold , v. t. -- To keep one's head above water , to keep afloat; fig., to avoid failure or sinking in the struggles of life. [Colloq.] -- To make water . (a) To pass urine. Swift . (b) (Naut.) To admit water; to leak. -- Water of crystallization (Chem.) , the water combined with many salts in their crystalline form. This water is loosely, but, nevertheless, chemically, combined, for it is held in fixed and definite amount for each substance containing it. Thus, while pure copper sulphate, CuSO4 , is a white amorphous substance, blue vitriol, the crystallized form, CuSO4.5H2O , contains five molecules of water of crystallization. -- Water on the brain (Med.) , hydrocephalus. -- Water on the chest (Med.) , hydrothorax.

&hand; Other phrases, in which water occurs as the first element, will be found in alphabetical order in the Vocabulary.

Water <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Watered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Watering .] [AS. w\'91terian , ge w\'91terian .]

1. To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow with water; to irrigate; as, to water land; to water flowers.

With tears watering the ground. Milton.

Men whose lives gilded on like rivers that water the woodlands. Longfellow.

2. To supply with water for drink; to cause or allow to drink; as, to water cattle and horses .

3. To wet and calender, as cloth, so as to impart to it a lustrous appearance in wavy lines; to diversify with wavelike lines; as, to water silk . Cf. Water , n. , 6.

4. To add water to (anything), thereby extending the quantity or bulk while reducing the strength or quality; to extend; to dilute; to weaken.

To water stock , to increase the capital stock of a company by issuing new stock, thus diminishing the value of the individual shares. Cf. Water , n. , 7. [Brokers' Cant]

Water <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter , v. i. 1. To shed, secrete, or fill with, water or liquid matter; as, his eyes began to water .

If thine eyes can water for his death. Shak.

2. To get or take in water; as, the ship put into port to water .

The mouth waters , a phrase denoting that a person or animal has a longing desire for something, since the sight of food often causes one who is hungry to have an increased flow of saliva.

Water adder <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter ad"der (?) . (Zo\'94l.) (a) The water moccasin. (b) The common, harmless American water snake ( Tropidonotus sipedon ). See Illust . under Water Snake .

Waterage <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter*age (?; 48) , n. Money paid for transportation of goods, etc., by water. [Eng.]

Water agrimony <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter ag"ri*mo*ny (?) . (Bot.) A kind of bur marigold ( Bidens tripartita ) found in wet places in Europe.

Water aloe <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter al"oe (?) . (Bot.) See Water soldier .

Water antelope <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter an"te*lope (?) . See Water buck .

Water arum <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter a"rum (?) . (Bot.) An aroid herb ( Calla palustris ) having a white spathe. It is an inhabitant of the north temperate zone.

Water back <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter back` (?) . See under 1st Back .

Water bailiff <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter bail"iff (?) . An officer of the customs, whose duty it is to search vessels. [Eng.]

Water ballast <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter bal"last (?) . (Naut.) Water confined in specially constructed compartments in a vessel's hold, to serve as ballast.

Water barometer <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter ba*rom"e*ter (?) . (Physics) A barometer in which the changes of atmospheric pressure are indicated by the motion of a column of water instead of mercury. It requires a column of water about thirty-three feet in height.

Water bath <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter bath` (?) . A device for regulating the temperature of anything subjected to heat, by surrounding the vessel containing it with another vessel containing water which can be kept at a desired temperature; also, a vessel designed for this purpose.

Water battery <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter bat"ter*y (?) . 1. (Elec.) A voltaic battery in which the exciting fluid is water.

2. (Mil.) A battery nearly on a level with the water.

Water bear <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter bear` (?) . (Zo\'94l.) Any species of Tardigrada, 2. See Illust . of Tardigrada .

Water-bearer <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter-bear`er (?) , n. (Astron.) The constellation Aquarius.

Water bed <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter bed` (?) . A kind of mattress made of, or covered with, waterproof fabric and filled with water. It is used in hospitals for bedridden patients. <-- also used in some private homes. -->

Water beech <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter beech` (?) . (Bot.) The American hornbeam. See Hornbeam .

Water beetle <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter bee"tle (?) . (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous species of aquatic beetles belonging to Dytiscus and allied genera of the family Dytiscid\'91 , and to various genera of the family Hydrophilid\'91 . These beetles swim with great agility, the fringed hind legs acting together like oars.

Water bellows <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter bel"lows (?) . Same as Tromp .

Water bird <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter bird` (?) . (Zo\'94l.) Any aquatic bird; a water fowl.

Water blackbird <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter black"*bird (?) . (Zo\'94l.) The European water ousel, or dipper.

Waterboard <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter*board` (?) , n. A board set up to windward in a boat, to keep out water.

Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Water boatman <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter boat`man (?) . (Zo\'94l.) A boat bug.

Waterbok <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter*bok` (?) , n. [D.] (Zo\'94l.) A water buck.

Water-bound <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter-bound` (?) , a. Prevented by a flood from proceeding.

Water brain <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter brain` (?) . A disease of sheep; gid.

Water brash <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter brash` (?) . (Med.) See under Brash .

Water breather <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter breath"er (?) . (Zo\'94l.) Any arthropod that breathes by means of gills.

Water bridge <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter bridge` (?) . (Steam Boilers) See Water table .

Water buck <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter buck` (?) . (Zo\'94l.) A large, heavy antelope ( Kobus ellipsiprymnus ) native of Central Africa. It frequents the banks of rivers and is a good swimmer. It has a white ring around the rump. Called also photomok , water antelope , and waterbok .

&hand; The name is also applied to other related species, as the leche ( Kobus leche ), which has similar habits.

Water buffalo <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter buf"fa*lo (?) . (Zo\'94l.) The European buffalo.

Water bug <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter bug` (?) . (Zo\'94l.) (a) The Croton bug. (b) Any one of numerous species of large, rapacious, aquatic, hemipterous insects belonging to Belostoma , Benacus , Zaitha , and other genera of the family Belostomatid\'91 . Their hind legs are long and fringed, and act like oars. Some of these insects are of great size, being among the largest existing Hemiptera. Many of them come out of the water and fly about at night.

Water butt <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter butt` (?) . A large, open-headed cask, set up on end, to contain water.

Dickens.

Water caltrop <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter cal"trop (?) . (Bot.) The water chestnut.

Water can <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter can` (?) . (Bot.) Any one of several species of Nuphar; the yellow frog lily; -- so called from the shape of the seed vessel. See Nuphar , and cf. Candock .

Dr. Prior.

Water canker <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter can"ker (?) . (Med.) See Canker , n. , 1.

Water carriage <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter car"riage (?) . 1. Transportation or conveyance by water; means of transporting by water.

2. A vessel or boat. [Obs.]

Arbuthnot.

Water cart <Xpage=1631>

Wa"ter cart` (?) . A cart carrying water; esp., one carrying water for sale, or for sprinkling streets, gardens, etc.