Chapter 1870

Wa"ter-logged (?) , a. Filled or saturated with water so as to be heavy, unmanageable, or loglike; -- said of a vessel, when, by receiving a great quantity of water into her hold, she has become so heavy as not to be manageable by the helm.

Waterman <Xpage=1632>

Wa"ter*man , n. ; pl. Watermen (<?/) .

1. A man who plies for hire on rivers, lakes, or canals, or in harbors, in distinction from a seaman who is engaged on the high seas; a man who manages fresh-water craft; a boatman; a ferryman.

2. An attendant on cab stands, etc., who supplies water to the horses. [Eng.]

Dickens.

3. A water demon.

Tylor.

Watermark <Xpage=1632>

Wa"ter*mark` (?) , n. 1. A mark indicating the height to which water has risen, or at which it has stood; the usual limit of high or low water.

2. A letter, device, or the like, wrought into paper during the process of manufacture.

&hand; "The watermark in paper is produced by bending the wires of the mold, or by wires bent into the shape of the required letter or device, and sewed to the surface of the mold; -- it has the effect of making the paper thinner in places. The old makers employed watermarks of an eccentric kind. Those of Caxton and other early printers were an oxhead and star, a collared dog's head, a crown, a shield, a jug, etc. A fool's cap and bells, employed as a watermark, gave the name to foolscap paper; a postman's horn, such as was formerly in use, gave the name to post paper."

Tomlinson.

3. (Naut.) See Water line , 2. [R.]

Water meadow <Xpage=1632>

Wa"ter mead"ow (?) . (Agric.) A meadow, or piece of low, flat land, capable of being kept in a state of fertility by being overflowed with water from some adjoining river or stream.

Water measure <Xpage=1632>

Wa"ter meas"ure (?) . A measure formerly used for articles brought by water, as coals, oysters, etc. The water-measure bushel was three gallons larger than the Winchester bushel.

Cowell.

Water measurer <Xpage=1632>

Wa"ter meas"ur*er (?) . (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous species of water; the skater. See Skater , n. , 2.

Watermelon <Xpage=1632>

Wa"ter*mel`on (?) , n. (Bot.) The very large ovoid or roundish fruit of a cucurbitaceous plant ( Citrullus vulgaris ) of many varieties; also, the plant itself. The fruit sometimes weighs many pounds; its pulp is usually pink in color, and full of a sweet watery juice. It is a native of tropical Africa, but is now cultivated in many countries. See Illust . of Melon .

Water meter <Xpage=1632>

Wa"ter me"ter (?) . A contrivance for measuring a supply of water delivered or received for any purpose, as from a street main.

Water milfoil <Xpage=1632>

Wa"ter mil"foil (?) . (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Myriophyllum , aquatic herbs with whorled leaves, the submersed ones pinnately parted into capillary divisions.

Water mill <Xpage=1632>

Wa"ter mill` (?) . A mill whose machinery is moved by water; -- distinguished from a windmill , and a steam mill .

Water mint <Xpage=1632>

Wa"ter mint` (?) . A kind of mint ( Mentha aquatica ) growing in wet places, and sometimes having a perfume resembling bergamot.

Water mite <Xpage=1632>

Wa"ter mite` (?) . (Zo\'94l.) Any of numerous species of aquatic mites belonging to Hydrachna and allied genera of the family Hydrachnid\'91 , usually having the legs fringed and adapted for swimming. They are often red or red and black in color, and while young are parasites of fresh-water insects and mussels. Called also water tick , and water spider .

<page="1633"> Page 1633

Water moccasin <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter moc"ca*sin (?) . (Zo\'94l.) A venomous North American snake ( Ancistrodon piscivorus ) allied to the rattlesnake but destitute of a rattle. It lives in or about pools and ponds, and feeds largely of fishes. Called also water snake , water adder , water viper . <-- called also cottonmouth, cottonmouth moccasin, and cottonmouth water moccasin. -->

Water mole <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter mole` (?) . (Zo\'94l.) (a) The shrew mole. See under Shrew . (b) The duck mole. See under Duck .

Water monitor <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter mon"i*tor (?) . (Zo\'94l.) A very large lizard ( Varanaus salvator ) native of India. It frequents the borders of streams and swims actively. It becomes five or six feet long. Called also two-banded monitor , and kabaragoya . The name is also applied to other aquatic monitors.

Water motor <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter mo"tor (?) . 1. A water engine.

2. A water wheel; especially, a small water wheel driven by water from a street main.

Water mouse <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter mouse` (?) . (Zo\'94l.) Any one of several species of mice belonging to the genus Hydromys , native of Australia and Tasmania. Their hind legs are strong and their toes partially webbed. They live on the borders of streams, and swim well. They are remarkable as being the only rodents found in Australia.

Water murrain <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter mur"rain (?) . A kind of murrain affecting cattle.

Crabb.

Water newt <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter newt` (?) . (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous species of aquatic salamanders; a triton.

Water nymph <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter nymph` (?) . 1. (Myth.) A goddess of any stream or other body of water, whether one of the Naiads, Nereids, or Oceanides.

2. (Bot.) A water lily ( Nymph\'91a ).

Water oat <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter oat` (?) . Indian rice. See under Rice .

Water opossum <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter o*pos"sum (?) . (Zo\'94l.) See Yapock , and the Note under Opossum .

Water ordeal <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter or"de*al (?) . Same as Ordeal by water . See the Note under Ordeal , n. , 1.

Water ousel, Water ouzel <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter ou"sel (?) , Wa"ter ou"zel . (Zo\'94l.) Any one of several species of small insessorial birds of the genus Cinclus (or Hydrobates ), especially the European water ousel ( C. aquaticus ), and the American water ousel ( C. Mexicanus ). These birds live about the water, and are in the habit of walking on the bottom of streams beneath the water in search of food.

Water parsnip <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter pars"nip (?) . (Bot.) Any plant of the aquatic umbelliferous genus Sium , poisonous herbs with pinnate or dissected leaves and small white flowers.

Water partridge <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter par"tridge (?) . (Zo\'94l.) The ruddy duck. [Local, U. S.]

Water pennywort <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter pen"ny*wort` (?) . (Bot.) Marsh pennywort. See under Marsh .

Water pepper <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter pep"per (?) . (Bot.) (a) Smartweed. (b) Waterwort.

Water pheasant <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter pheas"ant (?) . (Zo\'94l.) (a) The pintail. See Pintail , n. , 1. (b) The goosander. (c) The hooded merganser.

Water piet <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter pi"et (?) . (Zo\'94l.) The water ousel.

Water pig <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter pig` (?) . 1. (Zo\'94l.) The capybara.

2. (Zo\'94l.) The gourami.

Water pillar <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter pil"lar (?) . A waterspout. [Obs.]

Water pimpernel <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter pim"per*nel (?) . (Bot.) A small white-flowered shrub; brookweed.

Water pipe <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter pipe (?) . A pipe for conveying water.

Water pitcher <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter pitch"er (?) . 1. A pitcher for water.

2. (Bot.) One of a family of plants having pitcher-shaped leaves. The sidesaddle flower ( Sarracenia purpurea ) is the type.

Water plant <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter plant` (?) . A plant that grows in water; an aquatic plant.

Water plantain <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter plan"tain (?) . (Bot.) A kind of plant with acrid leaves. See under 2d Plantain .

Water plate <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter plate` (?) . A plate heated by hot water contained in a double bottom or jacket.

Knight.

Water poa <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter po"a (?) . (Bot.) Meadow reed grass. See under Reed .

Water poise <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter poise` (?) . A hydrometer.

Water pore <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter pore` (?) 1. (Zo\'94l.) A pore by which the water tubes of various invertebrates open externally.

2. (Bot.) One of certain minute pores in the leaves of some plants. They are without true guardian cells, but in other respects closely resemble ordinary stomata.

Goodale.

Waterpot <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter*pot` (?) , n. A vessel for holding or conveying water, or for sprinkling water on cloth, plants, etc.

Water power <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter pow"er (?) . 1. The power of water employed to move machinery, etc.

2. A fall of water which may be used to drive machinery; a site for a water mill; a water privilege.

Water pox <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter pox` (?) . (Med.) A variety of chicken pox, or varicella.

Dunglison.

Water privilege <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter priv"i*lege (?) . The advantage of using water as a mechanical power; also, the place where water is, or may be, so used. See under Privilege .

Waterproof <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter*proof` (?) , a. Proof against penetration or permeation by water; impervious to water; as, a waterproof garment; a waterproof roof .

Waterproof <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter*proof` , n. 1. A substance or preparation for rendering cloth, leather, etc., impervious to water.

2. Cloth made waterproof, or any article made of such cloth, or of other waterproof material, as rubber; esp., an outer garment made of such material.

Waterproof <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter*proof` (?) , v. t. To render impervious to water, as cloth, leather, etc.

Waterproofing <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter*proof`ing , n. 1. The act or process of making waterproof.

2. Same as Waterproof , n. , 1.

Water purslane <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter purs"lane (?) . (Bot.) See under Purslane .

Water qualm <Xpage=1633>

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

Water rabbit <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter rab"bit (?) . (Zo\'94l.) See Water hare .

Water radish <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter rad"ish (?) . (Bot.) A coarse yellow-flowered plant ( Nasturtium amphibium ) related to the water cress and to the horse-radish.

Water rail <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter rail` (?) . (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous species of rails of the genus Rallus , as the common European species ( Rallus aquaticus ). See Illust . of Rail .

Water ram <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter ram` (?) . An hydraulic ram.

Water rat <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter rat` (?) . 1. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The water vole. See under Vole . (b) The muskrat. (c) The beaver rat. See under Beaver .

2. A thief on the water; a pirate.

Water rate <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter rate` (?) . A rate or tax for a supply of water.

Water rattle. Water rattler <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter rat"tle (?) . Wa"ter rat"tler (?) . (Zo\'94l.) The diamond rattlesnake ( Crotalus adamanteus ); -- so called from its preference for damp places near water.

Water-ret <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter-ret` (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Water-retted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Water-retting .] To ret, or rot, in water, as flax; to water-rot.

Water rice <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter rice" (?) . Indian rice. See under Rice .

Water rocket <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter rock"et (?) . 1. (Bot.) A cruciferous plant ( Nasturtium sylvestre ) with small yellow flowers.

2. A kind of firework to be discharged in the water.

Water-rot <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter-rot` (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Water-rotted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Water-rotting .] To rot by steeping in water; to water-ret; as, to water-rot hemp or flax .

Water sail <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter sail` (?) . (Naut.) A small sail sometimes set under a studding sail or under a driver boom, and reaching nearly to the water.

Water sapphire <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter sap"phire (?) . [Equiv. to F. saphir d'eau .] (Min.) A deep blue variety of iolite, sometimes used as a gem; -- called also saphir d'eau .

Waterscape <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter*scape" (?) , n. [Cf. Landscape .] A sea view; -- distinguished from landscape . [Jocose] <-- painting. -->

Fairholt.

Water scorpion <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter scor"pi*on (?) . (Zo\'94l.) See Nepa .

Water screw <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter screw` (?) . A screw propeller.

Watershed <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter*shed` (?) , n. [Cf. G. wasserscheide ; wasser water + scheide a place where two things separate, fr. scheiden to separate.]

1. The whole region or extent of country which contributes to the supply of a river or lake.

2. The line of division between two adjacent rivers or lakes with respect to the flow of water by natural channels into them; the natural boundary of a basin.

Water shield <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter shield` (?) . (Bot.) An aquatic American plant ( Brasenia peltata ) having floating oval leaves, and the covered with a clear jelly.

Watershoot <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter*shoot` (?) , n. 1. A sprig or shoot from the root or stock of a tree. [Obs.]

2. (Arch.) That which serves to guard from falling water; a drip or dripstone.

3. A trough for discharging water.

Water shrew <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter shrew` (?) . (Zo\'94l.) Any one of several species of shrews having fringed feet and capable of swimming actively. The two common European species ( Crossopus fodiens , and C. ciliatus ) are the best known. The most common American water shrew, or marsh shrew ( Neosorex palustris ), is rarely seen, owing to its nocturnal habits.

Water snail <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter snail` (?) . 1. (Zo\'94l.) Any aquatic pulmonate gastropod belonging to Planorbis , Limn\'91a , and allied genera; a pond snail.

2. (Mech.) The Archimedean screw. [R.]

Water snake <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter snake` (?) . (Zo\'94l.) (a) A common North American colubrine snake ( Tropidonotus sipedon ) which lives chiefly in the water. (b) Any species of snakes of the family Homalopsid\'91 , all of which are aquatic in their habits.

Water-soak <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter-soak` (?) , v. t. To soak water; to fill the interstices of with water.

Water soldier <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter sol`dier (?) . (Bot.) An aquatic European plant ( Stratiotes aloides ) with bayonet-shaped leaves.

Water souchy <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter souch`y (?) . (Cookery) A dish consisting of small fish stewed and served in a little water. [Written also water souchet .] See Zoutch .

Water spaniel <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter span"iel (?) . A curly-haired breed of spaniels, naturally very fond of the water.

Water sparrow <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter spar"row (?) . (Zo\'94l.) (a) The reed warbler. [Prov. Eng.] (b) The reed bunting. [Prov. Eng.]

Water speedwell <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter speed"well (?) . (Bot.) A kind of speedwell ( Veronica Anagallis ) found in wet places in Europe and America.

Water spider <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter spi"der (?) . (Zo\'94l.) (a) An aquatic European spider ( Argyoneta aquatica ) which constructs its web beneath the surface of the water on water plants. It lives in a bell-shaped structure of silk, open beneath like a diving bell, and filled with air which the spider carries down in the form of small bubbles attached one at a time to the spinnerets and hind feet. Called also diving spider . (b) A water mite. (c) Any spider that habitually lives on or about the water, especially the large American species ( Dolomedes lanceolatus ) which runs rapidly on the surface of water; -- called also raft spider .

Water spinner <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter spin`ner (?) . (Zo\'94l.) The water spider.

Waterspout <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter*spout` (?) , n. A remarkable meteorological phenomenon, of the nature of a tornado or whirlwind, usually observed over the sea, but sometimes over the land.

&hand; Tall columns, apparently of cloud, and reaching from the sea to the clouds, are seen moving along, often several at once, sometimes straight and vertical, at other times inclined and tortuous, but always in rapid rotation. At their bases, the sea is violently agitated and heaped up with a leaping or boiling motion, water, at least in some cases, being actually carried up in considerable quantity, and scattered round from a great height, as solid bodies are by tornadoes on land.

Sir J. Herschel.

Water sprite <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter sprite` (?) . A sprite, or spirit, imagined as inhabiting the water.

J. R. Drake.

Water-standing <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter-stand`ing (?) , a. Tear-filled. [R.] "Many an orphan's water-standing eye."

Shak.

Water star grass <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter star" grass` (?) . (Bot.) An aquatic plant ( Schollera graminea ) with grassy leaves, and yellow star-shaped blossoms.

Water starwort <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter star"wort` (?) . See under Starwort .

Water supply <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter sup*ply" (?) . A supply of water; specifically, water collected, as in reservoirs, and conveyed, as by pipes, for use in a city, mill, or the like.

Water tabby <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter tab"by (?) . A kind of waved or watered tabby. See Tabby , n. , 1.

Water table <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter ta"ble (?) . (Arch.) A molding, or other projection, in the wall of a building, to throw off the water, -- generally used in the United States for the first table above the surface of the ground (see Table , n. , 9), that is, for the table at the top of the foundation and the beginning of the upper wall.

Watertath <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter*tath` (?) , n. [ Water + tath , n.] A kind of coarse grass growing in wet grounds, and supposed to be injurious to sheep. [Prov. Eng.]

Water thermometer <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter ther*mom"e*ter (?) . (Physics) A thermometer filled with water instead of mercury, for ascertaining the precise temperature at which water attains its maximum density. This is about 39&deg; Fahr., or 4&deg; Centigrade; and from that point down to 32&deg; Fahr., or 0&deg; Centigrade, or the freezing point, it expands.

Water thief <Xpage=1633>

Wa"ter thief` (?) . A pirate. [R.]

Shak.

Water thrush <Xpage=1633>