Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Wā'ter-clŏck, n. p. 1496An instrument or machine serving to measure time by the fall of a certain quantity of water; a clepsydra.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.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.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…Wa'ter-cōl'or-ist, n. p. 1496One who paints in water-colors.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…Wa'ter-craft, n. p. 1496Vessels and boats plying on water.Wa'ter-erāke, n. p. 1496(Ornith.) The water-ousel. See WATER-OUSEL.Wa'ter-crāne, n. p. 1496An apparatus for supplying water from an elevated tank, as to the tender of a locomotive. Weale.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…Wa'ter-crōw, n. p. 1496(Ōrnith.) The water-ousel. See WATER-OUSEL.Wā'ter-crōw'fōot, n. p. 1496(Bot.) An aquatic plant, the Ranunculus aquatilis.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.Wa'ter-dēck, n. p. 1496A covering of painted canvas for the saddle, bridle, and the like, of a dragoon's horse. Stocqueler.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.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.…Wə'ter-drāin, n. p. 1496A drain or channel for water to run off.Wā'ter-drāin'age, n. p. 1496The draining off of water.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.Wa'ter-drŏp'wort, n. p. 1496(Bot.) An umbelliferous, aquatic plant, of the genus Œnanthe, some species of which possess poisonous properties.Wă'ter-ēl'der, n. p. 1496(Bot.) A plant of the genus Viburnum; guelder-rose.Wa'ter-ēl'e-phant, n. p. 1496The hippopotamus.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.Wă'ter-er, n. p. 1496One who waters.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.Wă'ter-flāg, n. p. 1496(Bot.) Water flower-de-luce, a species of Iris.Wa'ter-flā'nel, n. p. 1496(Bot.) A species of confervæ which forms beds of entangled filaments on the surface of water. Baird.Wă'ter-flēa, n. p. 1496(Zoöl.) A small, entomostracous crustacean, of the genus Cyclops, and also of the genus Daphnia.Wa'ter-flood, n. p. 1496A flood of water; an inundation.Wa'ter-flȳ, n. p. 1496An insect that is seen on the water.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…Wa'ter-fŏx, n. p. 1496(Ichth.) The carp;—so called on account of its cunning. Walton.Wa'ter-fŭr'rōw, n. p. 1496(Agric.) A deep furrow made for conducting water from the ground, and keeping it dry.Wâ'ter-fûr'rōw, v. t. p. 1496To plow or open water-furrows in.Wa'ter-gāge, n. p. 1496See WATER-GAUGE.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.…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.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…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.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.Wă'ter-ger-măn'der, n. p. 1496(Bot.) A labiate plant of the genus Teucrium (T. scordium), formerly used in medicine.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.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.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.Wa'ter-gŏd, n. p. 1496A deity that presides over the water.Wa'ter-gru'el, n. p. 1496A liquid food, composed of water and a small portion of meal, or other farinaceous substance boiled.Wā'ter-guärd, n. p. 1496A police or custom-house guard stationed near or on water. Simmonds.Wâ'ter-hâir'grass, n. p. 1496(Bot.) A species of grass growing in wet places.Wā'ter-hăm'mer, n. p. 1496A vessel partly filled with water, exhausted of air, and hermetically sealed. When reversed or shaken, the water, being unimpeded by air, strikes the sides with a sound like that of a hammer.Wā’ter-hēm’lock, n. p. 1496(Bot.) (a.) A perennial marsh-plant of the genus Cicuta, having white flowers, and possessed of active poisonous properties. (b.) A poisonous aquatic plant of the genus Œnanthe (O. crocata). Gray.Wā'ter-hĕmp, n. p. 1496(Bot.) A plant of the genus Acnida, growing in salt marshes. Gray.Wa’ter-hĕmp-ăg’ri-mo-ny, n. p. 1496(Bot.) A plant of the genus Bidens. Lee.Wa’ter-hēn, n. p. 1496(Ornith.) A water-fowl of the genus Gallinula (G. chloropus), belonging to the family of the rails, and so named from its resemblance to the common domestic fowl; gallinule. Nuttall.Wa'ter-hōar'hound, n. p. 1496(Bot.) A perennial plant of the genus Lycopus, found in wet grounds. Gray.Wa'ter-hŏg, n. p. 1496(Zo-ol.) A quadruped of South America; the Hydrochærus capybara; the cabiai, or capybara. See CABIAL.Wa'ter-inch, n. p. 1496(Hydraul.) The quantity of water flowing in one minute through a circular opening one inch in diameter, whose center is one and one twelfth inches below a constant surface.Wa'ter-i-ness, n. p. 1496The state or quality of being watery; moisture; humidity.Wa’ter-ing-call, n. p. 1496(Mil.) A call by a sound of the trumpet to cavalry soldiers to assemble for the purpose of watering their horses. Stoqueler.Wa'ter-ing-place, n. p. 1496A place where water may be obtained, as for a ship, for cattle, &c. 2. A place to which people resort for mineral water, or for the use of water in any way, as bathing, drinking, &c.Wā'ter-ing-trough, n. p. 1496A trough in which cattle and horses drink.