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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. Wa'ter-gŏd, n.p. 1496A deity that presides over the water.
  2. Wa'ter-gru'el, n.p. 1496A liquid food, composed of water and a small portion of meal, or other farinaceous substance boiled.
  3. Wā'ter-guärd, n.p. 1496A police or custom-house guard stationed near or on water. Simmonds.
  4. Wâ'ter-hâir'grass, n.p. 1496(Bot.) A species of grass growing in wet places.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Wā'ter-hĕmp, n.p. 1496(Bot.) A plant of the genus Acnida, growing in salt marshes. Gray.
  8. Wa’ter-hĕmp-ăg’ri-mo-ny, n.p. 1496(Bot.) A plant of the genus Bidens. Lee.
  9. 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.
  10. Wa'ter-hōar'hound, n.p. 1496(Bot.) A perennial plant of the genus Lycopus, found in wet grounds. Gray.
  11. Wa'ter-hŏg, n.p. 1496(Zo-ol.) A quadruped of South America; the Hydrochærus capybara; the cabiai, or capybara. See CABIAL.
  12. 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.
  13. Wa'ter-i-ness, n.p. 1496The state or quality of being watery; moisture; humidity.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. Wā'ter-ing-trough, n.p. 1496A trough in which cattle and horses drink.
  17. Wa'ter-ish, a.p. 1496Resembling water; thin; watery. “Fed upon such nice and waterish diet.” Shak. 2. Somewhat watery; moist; as, waterish land.
  18. Wa'ter-ish-ness, n.p. 1496The state or quality of being waterish; thinness, as of a liquor; resemblance to water; wateriness. “Waterishness, which is like the serosity of our blood.” Floyer.
  19. Wa’ter-lānd’i-an, n.p. 1496(Eccl. Hist.) One of a division of Dutch Anabaptists, which originated in the sixteenth century;—so called from a district in North Holland denominated Waterland. Brande.
  20. Wă'ter-lēaf, n.p. 1496(Bot.) An American plant of the genus Hydrophyllum, having white or pale blue flowers in cymose clusters. Gray.
  21. Wa'ter-lĕg, n.p. 1496(Steam-boilers.) A water space that forms the side of a fire-box.
  22. Wa'ter-lēm'on, n.p. 1496(Bot.) The edible fruit of a species of passion-flower (Passiflora laurifolia);—so called in the West Indies. Baird.
  23. Wa'ter-less, a.p. 1496Destitute of water.
  24. Wă'ter-lĕv'el, n.p. 1496The level formed by the surface of still water. 2. A leveling instrument in which water is employed (commonly in a trough or curved tube) for determining the horizontal line.
  25. Wa'ter-lil'y, n.p. 1496(Bot.) An aquatic plant of the genus Nymphæa, distinguished for its beautiful, and usually very fragrant, flowers, and large, floating leaves;—applied also to the yellow pond-lily of the genus…
  26. Wā'ter-lime, n.p. 1496Hydraulic lime. See HYDRAULIC.
  27. Wā'ter-line, n.p. 1496(Naut.) An horizontal line supposed to be drawn about a ship's bottom at the surface of the water. This is higher or lower, according to the depth of water necessary to float her. Light water-line…
  28. Wə'ter-lŏgged, a.p. 1497(Naut.) Rendered log-like, heavy, or clumsy in movement, in consequence of being filled with water; — said of a ship, when, by leaking and receiving a great quantity of water into her hold, she has…
  29. Wă’ter-man, n.p. 1497A man who plies for hire on rivers, lakes, or canals, in distinction from a seaman who is engaged on the high seas; a man who manages water-craft; a boatman; a ferryman. 2. An attendant on…
  30. Wā'ter-märk, n.p. 1497A mark indicating the height to which water has risen, or at which it has stood. 2. A letter, device, &c., wrought into paper during the process of manufacture. “The water-mark in paper is produced…
  31. Wă'ter-mēad'ōw, n.p. 1497(Agric.) A meadow, or low, flat land, capable of being kept in a state of fertility by being overflowed with water from some adjoining river or stream. Brandé.
  32. Wa'ter-mēas/ūre, n.p. 1497A measure for articles brought by water, as coals, oysters, and the like; a measure three gallons larger than the Winchester bushel. Cowell.
  33. Wa'ter-mĕl'on, n.p. 1497(Bot.) A plant and its fruit, of the genus Cucumis (C. citrullus). The fruit abounds with a sweetish liquor resembling water in color, and the pulp is rich and delicious.
  34. Wa’ter-mē’ter, n.p. 1497A contrivance for measuring the supply of water to a house, &c., as from a street main. Simmonds. 2. An instrument to determine the amount of water evaporated in a given time, as from a steam-boiler…
  35. Wa'ter-mil'foil, n.p. 1497(Bot.) A perennial aquatic plant of the genus Myriophyllum, having crowded, often whorled leaves, of which those under water are pinnately parted into capillary divisions. Gray.
  36. Wă'ter-mill, n.p. 1497A mill whose machinery is moved by water, and thus distinguished from a wind-mill.
  37. Wă'ter-mĭnt, n.p. 1497The same as WATER-CALAMINT.
  38. Wă'ter-mōle, n.p. 1497(Zoöl.) (a.) The same as SHREW-MOLE, q. v. (b.) The duck-bill. See DUCK-BILL.
  39. Wā'ter-mūr'rain, n.p. 1497A kind of murrain affecting cattle. Crabb.
  40. Wa'ter-newt, n.p. 1497(Zoöl.) An animal of the lizard tribe (Lacerta aquatica of Linnæus).
  41. Wă'ter-ôr'de-al, n.p. 1497A judicial trial of persons accused of crimes, by means of water, formerly in use among illiterate and superstitious nations. See ORDEAL.
  42. Wa'ter-ou'sel, n.p. 1497(Ornith.) An aquatic bird; the Hydrobata aquatica (Cinclus aquaticus, or Turdus cinclus, of some authors); the dipper; — called also water-crake and water-crow. Baird.
  43. Wă'ter-pärs'nip, n.p. 1497(Bot.) A plant of the genus Sium, growing in wet or in marshy grounds.
  44. Wā'ter-pĕp'per, n.p. 1497(Bot.) (a.) One of an order of annual marsh-plants, of which the genus Elatine is the type. Some species possess a considerable degree of acridity. Baird. (b.) A plant of the genus Polygonum (P.…
  45. Wa'ter-pil'lar, n.p. 1497A water-spout. [Obs.]
  46. Wa'ter-pim'per-nĕl, n.p. 1497(Bot.) A small marsh plant of the genus Samolus; brook-weed.
  47. Wa'ter-pitch'er, n.p. 1497A pitcher for holding water. 2. (Bot.) One of a family of plants having pitcher-shaped leaves, and of which the side-saddle flower (Sarracenia purpurea) is the type. Baird.
  48. Wă'ter-plānt, n.p. 1497A plant that grows in water; an aquatic plant.
  49. Wa'ter-plän'tain, n.p. 1497(Bot.) An aquatic plant of the genus Alisma. Gray.
  50. Wa'ter-pō'ă, n.p. 1497(Bot.) A valuable species of grass, the Poa aquatica, which is cultivated for fodder.
  51. Wa'ter-poise, n.p. 1497An hydrometer.
  52. Wa'ter-pŏt, n.p. 1497A vessel for holding or conveying water, or for sprinkling water on cloth in bleaching, or on plants, &c.
  53. Wa'ter-pow'er, n.p. 1497The power of water employed to move machinery, &c. 2. A fall of water which may be used to drive machinery; a source of power from water; a place where water may be readily used to drive machinery.
  54. Wa'ter-pōx, n.p. 1497(Med.) A variety of chicken-pox; varicella. Dunglison.
  55. Wa'ter-priv'i-lege, n.p. 1497The right to use water for mills, or to drive machinery. 2. A stream of water capable of being employed to drive machinery, as for a mill.
  56. Wa'ter-proof, a.p. 1497Impervious to water; so firm and compact as not to admit water; as, water-proof cloth, leather, or felt.
  57. Wa'ter-prōof or Wa'ter-prōof'ing, n.p. 1497A substance or preparation for rendering any thing, as cloth, leather, &c., impervious to water.
  58. Wa'ter-pûrs'lane, n.p. 1497(Bot.) An aquatic plant of the genus Peplis.
  59. Wa'ter-qualm, n.p. 1497(Med.) The same as WATER-BRASH, q. v.
  60. Wa'ter-quint'ain, n.p. 1497A tilt on the water. See QUINTAIN. Strutt.