Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
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.
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.Wa'ter-ish, a. p. 1496Resembling water; thin; watery. “Fed upon such nice and waterish diet.” Shak. 2. Somewhat watery; moist; as, waterish land.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.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.Wă'ter-lēaf, n. p. 1496(Bot.) An American plant of the genus Hydrophyllum, having white or pale blue flowers in cymose clusters. Gray.Wa'ter-lĕg, n. p. 1496(Steam-boilers.) A water space that forms the side of a fire-box.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.Wa'ter-less, a. p. 1496Destitute of water.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.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…Wā'ter-lime, n. p. 1496Hydraulic lime. See HYDRAULIC.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…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…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…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…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.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.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.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…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.Wă'ter-mill, n. p. 1497A mill whose machinery is moved by water, and thus distinguished from a wind-mill.Wă'ter-mĭnt, n. p. 1497The same as WATER-CALAMINT.Wă'ter-mōle, n. p. 1497(Zoöl.) (a.) The same as SHREW-MOLE, q. v. (b.) The duck-bill. See DUCK-BILL.Wā'ter-mūr'rain, n. p. 1497A kind of murrain affecting cattle. Crabb.Wa'ter-newt, n. p. 1497(Zoöl.) An animal of the lizard tribe (Lacerta aquatica of Linnæus).