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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-a-ge, n.p. 1496Money paid for transportation of goods, &c., by water. [Eng.] Simmonds.
  2. Wa'ter-ā'lōe, n.p. 1496(Bot.) See WATER-SOLDIER.
  3. Wā'ter-bāil'iff, n.p. 1496An officer of the customs, in England, for searching ships.
  4. Wā'ter-ba-rōm'e-ter, n.p. 1496A 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.
  5. Wă'ter-băt'ter-y, n.p. 1496(Elec.) A voltaic battery in which the exciting fluid is water.
  6. Wă’ter-beâr, n.p. 1496(Zoöl.) One of a family of minute arachnidans found in stagnant fresh water, in wet moss, and similar situations, and remarkable for the power of recovering vitality after having been kept dry for…
  7. Wă'ter-beâr'er, n.p. 1496(Astron.) A sign of the zodiac, and the constellation from which it is named; Aquarius. [See Illust. of Aquarius.]
  8. 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.
  9. Wa'ter-bĕl'lows, n. sing. & pl.p. 1496The same as TROMP, q. v.
  10. Wạ'ter-bīrd, n.p. 1496(Ornith.) An aquatic bird; a water-fowl.
  11. Wā'ter-bōard, n.p. 1496A board set up in a boat to keep out water.
  12. Wă'ter-bōat'man, n.p. 1496(Entom.) An aquatic insect of the genus Notonecta; boat-fly.
  13. 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.…
  14. Wă'ter-brĭdge, n.p. 1496(Steam-boilers.) See WATER-TABLE.
  15. Wā'ter-bŭg, n.p. 1496(Entom.) An aquatic, hemipterous insect, of the genus Naucoris. Baird.
  16. Wā'ter-bŭtt, n.p. 1496A large, open-headed cask, set up on end, to contain water. Dickens.
  17. Wạ'ter-căl'a-mint, n.p. 1496(Bot.) A plant of the genus Mentha; a species of mint.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. Wȧ'ter-cärt, n.p. 1496A cart bearing water; especially, one by means of which water is sprinkled, as in the streets, &c.
  21. Wạ'ter-çēm'ent or Wạ'ter-çe-mēnt', n.p. 1496Hydraulic cement.
  22. Wa'ter-chick'/weed, n.p. 1496(Bot.) A small weed of the genus Montia (M. fontana). Loudon.
  23. Wā'ter-clŏck, n.p. 1496An instrument or machine serving to measure time by the fall of a certain quantity of water; a clepsydra.
  24. 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.
  25. 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.
  26. 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…
  27. Wa'ter-cōl'or-ist, n.p. 1496One who paints in water-colors.
  28. 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…
  29. Wa'ter-craft, n.p. 1496Vessels and boats plying on water.
  30. Wa'ter-erāke, n.p. 1496(Ornith.) The water-ousel. See WATER-OUSEL.
  31. Wa'ter-crāne, n.p. 1496An apparatus for supplying water from an elevated tank, as to the tender of a locomotive. Weale.
  32. 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…
  33. Wa'ter-crōw, n.p. 1496(Ōrnith.) The water-ousel. See WATER-OUSEL.
  34. Wā'ter-crōw'fōot, n.p. 1496(Bot.) An aquatic plant, the Ranunculus aquatilis.
  35. 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.
  36. Wa'ter-dēck, n.p. 1496A covering of painted canvas for the saddle, bridle, and the like, of a dragoon's horse. Stocqueler.
  37. 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.
  38. 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.…
  39. Wə'ter-drāin, n.p. 1496A drain or channel for water to run off.
  40. Wā'ter-drāin'age, n.p. 1496The draining off of water.
  41. 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.
  42. Wa'ter-drŏp'wort, n.p. 1496(Bot.) An umbelliferous, aquatic plant, of the genus Œnanthe, some species of which possess poisonous properties.
  43. Wă'ter-ēl'der, n.p. 1496(Bot.) A plant of the genus Viburnum; guelder-rose.
  44. Wa'ter-ēl'e-phant, n.p. 1496The hippopotamus.
  45. 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.
  46. Wă'ter-er, n.p. 1496One who waters.
  47. 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.
  48. Wă'ter-flāg, n.p. 1496(Bot.) Water flower-de-luce, a species of Iris.
  49. Wa'ter-flā'nel, n.p. 1496(Bot.) A species of confervæ which forms beds of entangled filaments on the surface of water. Baird.
  50. Wă'ter-flēa, n.p. 1496(Zoöl.) A small, entomostracous crustacean, of the genus Cyclops, and also of the genus Daphnia.
  51. Wa'ter-flood, n.p. 1496A flood of water; an inundation.
  52. Wa'ter-flȳ, n.p. 1496An insect that is seen on the water.
  53. 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…
  54. Wa'ter-fŏx, n.p. 1496(Ichth.) The carp;—so called on account of its cunning. Walton.
  55. Wa'ter-fŭr'rōw, n.p. 1496(Agric.) A deep furrow made for conducting water from the ground, and keeping it dry.
  56. Wâ'ter-fûr'rōw, v. t.p. 1496To plow or open water-furrows in.
  57. Wa'ter-gāge, n.p. 1496See WATER-GAUGE.
  58. 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.…
  59. 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.
  60. 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…