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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

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  1. Wă'ter-bee'tle, n.p. 1496(Entom.) An aquatic insect of the genus Dytiscus, which swims with great agility, its hind legs acting together like those of a frog. Baird.
  2. Wa'ter-bĕl'lows, n. sing. & pl.p. 1496The same as TROMP, q. v.
  3. Wạ'ter-bīrd, n.p. 1496(Ornith.) An aquatic bird; a water-fowl.
  4. Wā'ter-bōard, n.p. 1496A board set up in a boat to keep out water.
  5. Wă'ter-bōat'man, n.p. 1496(Entom.) An aquatic insect of the genus Notonecta; boat-fly.
  6. Wā'ter-brāsh, n.p. 1496(Med.) A hot sensation in the stomach, with the eructation of an acrid, burning liquid, that causes a distressing sensation in the parts over which it passes; pyrosis;—called also water-qualm.…
  7. Wă'ter-brĭdge, n.p. 1496(Steam-boilers.) See WATER-TABLE.
  8. Wā'ter-bŭg, n.p. 1496(Entom.) An aquatic, hemipterous insect, of the genus Naucoris. Baird.
  9. Wā'ter-bŭtt, n.p. 1496A large, open-headed cask, set up on end, to contain water. Dickens.
  10. Wạ'ter-căl'a-mint, n.p. 1496(Bot.) A plant of the genus Mentha; a species of mint.
  11. Wă'ter-căl'trop, n.p. 1496(Bot.) An aquatic plant of the genus Trapa, the fruit of which is remarkable for the spines with which it is furnished. Baird.
  12. Wa'ter-cār'rīage, n.p. 1496Transportation or conveyance by water, or the means of transporting by water. 2. A vessel or boat. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.
  13. Wȧ'ter-cärt, n.p. 1496A cart bearing water; especially, one by means of which water is sprinkled, as in the streets, &c.
  14. Wạ'ter-çēm'ent or Wạ'ter-çe-mēnt', n.p. 1496Hydraulic cement.
  15. Wa'ter-chick'/weed, n.p. 1496(Bot.) A small weed of the genus Montia (M. fontana). Loudon.
  16. Wā'ter-clŏck, n.p. 1496An instrument or machine serving to measure time by the fall of a certain quantity of water; a clepsydra.
  17. Wā'ter-clōs'et, n.p. 1496A privy; especially, a privy furnished with a contrivance for introducing a stream of water to cleanse it, and prevent it from becoming offensive.
  18. Wa’ter-cŏck, n.p. 1496A cock through which water is drawn. 2. A street plug to supply water from the mains in case of fire. Simmonds.
  19. Wā'ter-cŏl'or, n.p. 1496(Paint.) A color ground with water and gum or size, which preserves its consistency in a solid cake when dried, and which can easily be mixed with water by rubbing on a moistened palette when wanted…
  20. Wa'ter-cōl'or-ist, n.p. 1496One who paints in water-colors.
  21. Wa'ter-cōurse, n.p. 1496A stream of water; a river or brook. Isa. xliv. 4. 2. A channel or canal for the conveyance of water, especially in draining lands. 3. (Law.) A running stream of water having a bed and banks; the…
  22. Wa'ter-craft, n.p. 1496Vessels and boats plying on water.
  23. Wa'ter-erāke, n.p. 1496(Ornith.) The water-ousel. See WATER-OUSEL.
  24. Wa'ter-crāne, n.p. 1496An apparatus for supplying water from an elevated tank, as to the tender of a locomotive. Weale.
  25. Wă'ter-crĕss, n.p. 1496(Bot.) A small, creeping plant, growing in watery places;—applied especially to the Nasturtium officinale, a plant of an agreeable flavor, much cultivated as a relish or salad, and as a preventive of…
  26. Wa'ter-crōw, n.p. 1496(Ōrnith.) The water-ousel. See WATER-OUSEL.
  27. Wā'ter-crōw'fōot, n.p. 1496(Bot.) An aquatic plant, the Ranunculus aquatilis.
  28. Wă'ter-cūre, n.p. 1496(Med.) The mode or system of treating diseases with water; hydropathy;—applied also to an establishment where such treatment is employed. Douglison.
  29. Wa'ter-dēck, n.p. 1496A covering of painted canvas for the saddle, bridle, and the like, of a dragoon's horse. Stocqueler.
  30. Wə'ter-dōe'tor, n.p. 1496(Med.) (a.) One who professes to be able to divine diseases by inspection of the urine. (b.) A physician who treats diseases with water; an hydropathist. Douglison.
  31. Wă'ter-dŏg, n.p. 1496A dog accustomed to the water; especially, a variety of the common dog, generally of a black color, with some white, remarkable for its aquatic habits, which render it valuable to sportsmen. Bell. 2.…
  32. Wə'ter-drāin, n.p. 1496A drain or channel for water to run off.
  33. Wā'ter-drāin'age, n.p. 1496The draining off of water.
  34. Wa'ter-drēss'ing, n.p. 1496(Med.) The treatment of wounds and ulcers by the application of water, or of dressings saturated with water only. Dunglison.
  35. Wa'ter-drŏp'wort, n.p. 1496(Bot.) An umbelliferous, aquatic plant, of the genus Œnanthe, some species of which possess poisonous properties.
  36. Wă'ter-ēl'der, n.p. 1496(Bot.) A plant of the genus Viburnum; guelder-rose.
  37. Wa'ter-ēl'e-phant, n.p. 1496The hippopotamus.
  38. Wă'ter-ēn'gine, n.p. 1496An engine to raise water; or an engine moved by water; also, an engine or machine for extinguishing fires; a fire-engine.
  39. Wă'ter-er, n.p. 1496One who waters.
  40. Wā'ter-fall, n.p. 1496A fall or perpendicular descent of the water of a river or stream, or a descent nearly perpendicular; a cascade; a cataract.
  41. Wă'ter-flāg, n.p. 1496(Bot.) Water flower-de-luce, a species of Iris.
  42. Wa'ter-flā'nel, n.p. 1496(Bot.) A species of confervæ which forms beds of entangled filaments on the surface of water. Baird.
  43. Wă'ter-flēa, n.p. 1496(Zoöl.) A small, entomostracous crustacean, of the genus Cyclops, and also of the genus Daphnia.
  44. Wa'ter-flood, n.p. 1496A flood of water; an inundation.
  45. Wa'ter-flȳ, n.p. 1496An insect that is seen on the water.
  46. Wa'ter-fowl, n.p. 1496A bird that frequents the water, or lives about rivers, lakes, or on or near the sea; an aquatic fowl. ☞ Of aquatic fowls, some are waders, or furnished with long legs; others are swimmers, and are…
  47. Wa'ter-fŏx, n.p. 1496(Ichth.) The carp;—so called on account of its cunning. Walton.
  48. Wa'ter-fŭr'rōw, n.p. 1496(Agric.) A deep furrow made for conducting water from the ground, and keeping it dry.
  49. Wâ'ter-fûr'rōw, v. t.p. 1496To plow or open water-furrows in.
  50. Wa'ter-gāge, n.p. 1496See WATER-GAUGE.
  51. Wă'ter-gall, n.p. 1496A cavity made in the earth by a torrent of water. 2. A watery appearance in the sky, accompanying the rainbow. Those water-galls, in her dim element, Foretell new storms to those already spent. Shak.…
  52. Wā'ter-gāng, n.p. 1496(O. Law.) A passage for water; a trench to carry a stream of water, such as was usually made in a sea-wall, to drain water out of the marshes. Burrill.
  53. Wā’ter-gās, n.p. 1496An illuminating gas obtained by passing steam over ignited carbon, and composed of hydrogen, carbonic oxide, and carbonic acid, in various proportions, naphthalized with benzole, or the volatile…
  54. Wā'ter-gauge, n.p. 1496An instrument for measuring or ascertaining the depth or quantity of water, as in the boiler of a steam-engine. See GAUGE. 2. A wall to restrain or hold back water. Craig.
  55. Wə'ter-găv'el, n.p. 1496(O. Law.) A gavel or rent paid for fishing in, or other benefit received from, some river or water.
  56. Wă'ter-ger-măn'der, n.p. 1496(Bot.) A labiate plant of the genus Teucrium (T. scordium), formerly used in medicine.
  57. Wa'ter-gĭld'er, n.p. 1496One who gilds metallic surfaces by covering them with a thin coating of amalgam of gold and mercury, and volatilizing the mercury.
  58. Wa'ter-gild'ing, n.p. 1496The gilding of metallic surfaces by covering them with a thin coating of amalgam of gold, and then volatilizing the mercury by heat;—called also wash-gilding.
  59. Wä'ter-glàss, n.p. 1496A soluble alkaline silicate, as of potassa or soda, used for covering surfaces with a durable coat resembling glass, as a vehicle for colors in wall-painting, and for other purposes.
  60. Wa'ter-gŏd, n.p. 1496A deity that presides over the water.