Wastel-bread, wās′tel-bred, n. bread made from the finest of the flour. [O. Fr. wastel, pastry—Old High Ger. wastel, a cake, and bread.]
Waster, wās′tėr, n. a wooden sword for practising fencing with: (Scot.) a leister.—Play at wasters, to practise fencing. [Ety. dub.]
Wat, wot, n. (Shak.) a hare.
Wat, wot, adj. (Scot.) drunken. [Wet.]
Watch, woch, n. act of looking out: close observation: guard: one who watches or those who watch: a sentry: a pocket timepiece: the place where a guard is kept: a division of the night: time of watching, esp. in a ship, a division of a ship's crew into two or three sections, so that one set of men may have charge of the vessel while the others rest. (The day and night are divided into watches of four hours each, except the period from 4 to 8 P.M., which is divided into two dog-watches of two hours' duration each).—v.i. to look with attention: to keep guard: to look out: to attend the sick by night: to inspect, keep guard over (with over).—v.t. to keep in view: to give heed to: to have in keeping: to guard: to wait for, detect by lying in wait: (Shak.) to keep from sleep.—ns. Watch′-bill, a list of the officers and crew of a ship, as divided into watches, with their several stations; Watch′-box, a sentry-box; Watch′case, the outer case of a watch: (Shak.) a sentry-box; Watch′-clock, a watchman's clock; Watch′-dog, a dog kept to guard premises and property; Watch′er, one who watches; Watch′-fire, a night-fire acting as a signal: a fire for the use of a watching-party, sentinels, scouts, &c.—adj. Watch′ful, careful to watch or observe: attentive: circumspect: cautious.—adv. Watch′fully.—ns. Watch′fulness; Watch′-glass, a sand-glass: the glass covering of the face of a watch; Watch′-guard, a watch-chain of any material; Watch′-gun, a gun fired at the changing of the watch, as on a ship; Watch′-house, a house in which a guard is placed: a lock-up, detaining office; Watch′-jew′el, a jewel used in the works of a watch for lessening friction; Watch′-key, a key for winding a watch; Watch′-light, a light used for watching or sitting up in the night; Watch′-māk′er, one who makes and repairs watches; Watch′-māk′ing; Watch′man, a man who watches or guards, esp. the streets of a city at night; Watch′-meet′ing, a religious meeting to welcome in the New Year, held on the night before, called the Watch′-night; Watch′-off′icer, the officer in charge of the ship during a watch, also called Officer of the watch; Watch′-pā′per, a round piece of paper, often decorated, put inside the outer case of a watch to prevent rubbing; Watch′-pock′et, a small pocket for holding a watch; Watch′-spring, the mainspring of a watch; Watch′-tow′er, a tower on which a sentinel is placed to watch or keep guard against the approach of an enemy; Watch′word, the password to be given to a watch or sentry: any signal: a maxim, rallying-cry.—Watch and ward, the old custom of watching by night and by day in towns and cities: uninterrupted vigilance.—The Black Watch, the 42d and 73d Regiments, now the 1st and 2d Battalions of the Black Watch or Royal Highlanders. [A.S. wæcce—wacan, wake.]
Watchet, woch′et, adj. (Spens.) pale-blue. [M. E. wachet, perh. conn. ultimately with woad.]
Water, waw′tėr, n. in a state of purity, at ordinary temperatures, a clear transparent liquid, perfectly neutral in its reaction, and devoid of taste or smell: any collection of such, as the ocean, a lake, river, &c.: mineral water: tears: saliva: eye-water: urine: transparency, lustre, as of a diamond: (pl.) waves.—v.t. to wet, overflow, or supply with water: to wet and press so as to give a wavy appearance to: to increase the nominal capital of a company by the issue of new shares without a corresponding increase of actual capital.—v.i. to shed water: to gather saliva, noting strong craving: to take in water.—ns. Wa′terage, money paid for a journey by water; Wa′ter-bag, the bag-like compartment in which the camel stores water; Wa′ter-bail′iff, a custom-house officer who inspects ships on reaching or leaving a port: a person appointed to guard the fish in a protected piece of water; Wa′ter-barom′eter, a barometer in which water is substituted for mercury; Wa′ter-barr′el, -cask, a barrel, cask, for holding water; Wa′ter-bath, a bath composed of water: a vessel containing warm water used for chemical purposes; Wa′ter-batt′ery, a voltaic battery in which the electrolyte is water: (fort.) a battery nearly on a level with the water; Wa′ter-bear′er, one who carries water: (astron.) a sign of the zodiac; Wa′ter-bed, an india-rubber mattress filled with water, used by invalids to prevent bed-sores; Wa′ter-bell′ows, a form of blower used in gas-machines, and formerly to supply a blast for furnaces; Wa′ter-bird, a bird that frequents the water; Wa′ter-bis′cuit, a biscuit made of flour and water; Wa′ter-blink, a spot of cloud hanging over open water in arctic regions; Wa′ter-boat, a boat carrying water in bulk to supply ships; Wa′ter-boat′man, a kind of aquatic bug.—adj. Wa′ter-borne, conveyed in a boat.—ns. Wa′ter-bott′le, a glass, rubber, &c. bottle for carrying water; Wa′ter-brash, an affection consisting of a hot sensation in the stomach with eructations of an acrid burning liquid; Wa′ter-break, a ripple; Wa′ter-brose (Scot.), brose made of meal and water alone; Wa′ter-buck, an African water-antelope; Wa′ter-bug, a species of hemipterous insects found in ponds and still water; Wa′ter-butt, a large barrel for rain-water, usually kept out of doors; Wa′ter-carr′iage, carriage or conveyance by water; Wa′ter-cart, a cart for conveying water, esp. for the purpose of watering streets or roads; Wa′ter-cell, one of several small paunches in a camel used for storing water: a voltaic cell containing pure water; Wa′ter-cement′, hydraulic cement; Wa′ter-chest′nut (Marron d'eau), the name given in France to the edible seeds of the Trapa natans; Wa′ter-clock, a clock which is made to go by the fall of water; Wa′ter-clos′et, a closet used as a privy, in which the discharges are carried off by water; Wa′ter-cock, the kora, a large East Indian gallinule; Wa′ter-col′our, a colour or pigment diluted with water and gum, instead of oil: a painting in such a colour or colours; Wa′ter-col′ourist, a painter in water-colours; Wa′ter-cool′er, a machine for cooling water or for keeping water cool; Wa′ter-core, an apple with watery-looking core: in founding, a hollow core through which water may be passed; Wa′tercourse, a course or channel for water; Wa′ter-craft, boats plying on the water; Wa′ter-crane, a crane for turning water from a railway-tank into a locomotive tender; Wa′ter-cress, a small plant growing in watery places, much esteemed as a salad, and used as a preventive of scurvy; Wa′ter-cure, medical treatment by means of water; Wa′ter-deck, a decorated canvas cover for a dragoon's saddle; Wa′ter-deer, a small Chinese musk-deer of aquatic habits: in Africa, one of the chevrotains; Wa′ter-doc′tor, a hydropathist: one who divines diseases from the urine; Wa′ter-dog, a dog accustomed to the water: a variety of the common dog valuable to sportsmen in hunting water-fowl on account of its aquatic habits: (coll.) an experienced sailor: (pl.) small irregular floating clouds supposed to indicate rain; Wa′ter-drain, a channel through which water runs; Wa′ter-drain′age; Wa′ter-drink′er, a drinker of water: a teetotaler; Wa′ter-drop, a drop of water: a tear; Wa′ter-drop′wort, a genus of umbelliferous plants.—adj. Wa′tered, marked with wavy lines like those made by water—(Watered stocks, a term applied to securities whose nominal amount has been increased without any corresponding payment in cash).—ns. Wa′ter-el′evator, a device for raising water to a level: a lift that works by water; Wa′ter-en′gine, an engine for raising water: an engine for extinguishing fires; Wa′terer, one who waters: a vessel for watering with; Wa′terfall, a fall or perpendicular descent of a body of water: a cataract or cascade: (coll.) a neck-tie, a chignon; Wa′ter-flag, the yellow iris; Wa′ter-flea, the common name for minute aquatic crustaceans; Wa′ter-flood, an inundation; Wa′ter-flow, current of water.—adj. Wa′ter-flow′ing, streaming.—ns. Wa′ter-fly, an aquatic insect: (Shak.) an insignificant, troublesome person; Wa′ter-fowl, a fowl that frequents water; Wa′ter-frame, Arkwright's spinning-frame, which was driven by water; Wa′ter-gall, a watery appearance in the sky accompanying the rainbow: a pit or cavity made by a torrent of water; Wa′ter-gas, a gas partly derived from the decomposition of steam; Wa′ter-gate, a flood-gate: a gate admitting to a river or other body of water; Wa′ter-gauge, -gage, an instrument for gauging or measuring the quantity or height of water; Wa′ter-gilding=Wash-gilding; Wa′ter-glass, a water-clock: an instrument for making observations beneath the surface of water: soluble glass; Wa′ter-god, a deity presiding over some tract of water; Wa′ter-gru′el, gruel made of water and meal, &c., eaten without milk; Wa′ter-guard, river, harbour, or coast police; Wa′ter-hamm′er, the noise made by the sudden stoppage of moving water in a pipe: an air vacuum containing some water: (med.) a metal hammer heated in water and applied to the skin as a counter-irritant; Wa′ter-hen, the moorhen; Wa′ter-hole, a reservoir for water, a water-pool; Wa′teriness; Wa′tering, act of one who waters: the art or process of giving a wavy, ornamental appearance; Wa′tering-call, a cavalry trumpet-signal to water horses; Wa′tering-can, -pot, a vessel used for watering plants; Wa′tering-house, a place where cab-horses are watered; Wa′tering-place, a place where water may be obtained: a place to which people resort to drink mineral water, for bathing, &c.; Wa′tering-trough, a trough in which horses and cattle drink.—adj. Wa′terish, resembling, abounding in, water: somewhat watery: thin.—ns. Wa′terishness; Wa′ter-jack′et, a casing containing water placed around anything to keep it cool—also Wa′ter-box and Wa′ter-man′tle; Wa′ter-kel′pie, a malignant water-spirit, generally in the form of a horse, which delights to drown unwary travellers; Wa′ter-lem′on, a species of passion-flower; Wa′ter-lens, a simple lens formed by placing a few drops of water in a small brass cell with blackened sides and a glass bottom.—adj. Wa′terless, lacking water.—ns. Wa′ter-lev′el, the level formed by the surface of still water: a levelling instrument in which water is used; Wa′ter-lil′y, a name commonly given to the different species of Nymphæa and Nuphar, and also of Nelumbium, all genera of the natural order Nymphæaceæ, and indeed often extended to all the plants of that order—of the three British species all have heart-shaped leaves, floating on the water; Wa′ter-line, the line on a ship to which the water rises: a water-mark.—adj. Wa′ter-logged, rendered log-like or unmanageable from being filled with water.—ns. Wa′ter-lot, a lot of ground which is under water; Wa′ter-main, a great subterranean pipe supplying water in cities; Wa′terman, a man who plies a boat on water for hire: a boatman: a ferryman: a neat oarsman; Wa′termanship, oarsmanship; Wa′termark, a mark showing the height to which water has risen: a tide-mark: a mark wrought into paper, denoting its size or its manufacturer.—v.t. to mark with water-marks.—ns. Wa′ter-mead′ow, a meadow periodically overflowed by a stream; Wa′ter-mel′on, a plant having a spherical, pulpy, pleasantly flavoured fruit, the fruit itself; Wa′ter-me′ter, an instrument measuring the quantity of water passing through it: an instrument for measuring evaporation; Wa′ter-mill, a mill driven by water; Wa′ter-mole, the desman: a duck-mole or duck-billed platypus; Wa′ter-monk′ey, an earthenware jar for keeping drinking-water in hot climates, round, with narrow neck—also Monkey-jar; Wa′ter-mō′tor, any water-wheel or turbine, esp. any small motor driven by water under pressure; Wa′ter-nix′y, a spirit inhabiting water; Wa′ter-nymph, a Naiad; Wa′ter-ou′sel, the dipper; Wa′ter-pars′nip, a plant of the aquatic genus Sium—the skirret; Wa′ter-part′ing (same as Watershed); Wa′ter-phone, an instrument for detecting leaks in pipes; Wa′ter-pipe, a pipe for conveying water; Wa′ter-plane, a plane passing through a vessel when afloat; Wa′ter-plant, a plant which grows in water; Wa′ter-plate, a plate having a double bottom and a space for hot water, used to keep food warm; Wa′ter-pō′lo, an aquatic game played by swimmers in swimming-baths, at piers, &c., the sides numbering seven each—a goal-keeper, two backs, one half-back, and three forwards; Wa′ter-pot, a pot or vessel for holding water; Wa′ter-pow′er, the power of water, employed to move machinery, &c.; Wa′ter-pox, varicella; Wa′ter-priv′ilege, the right to the use of water, esp. for machinery.—adj. Wa′terproof, proof against water: not permitting water to enter.—n. anything with such qualities: a garment of some waterproof substance, like india-rubber.—ns. Wa′terproofing, the act of making any substance impervious to water: the material with which a thing is made waterproof, as caoutchouc; Wa′ter-pump, a pump for water, used humorously of the eyes; Wa′ter-pur′pie (Scot.), brook-lime, a species of Veronica; Wa′ter-rail, the common rail of Europe; Wa′ter-ram, a hydraulic ram; Wa′ter-rat, the popular name of the water-vole: the American musk-rat; Wa′ter-rate, a rate or tax for the supply of water; Wa′ter-route, a stream, lake, &c. used as a means of travel; Wa′ter-rug (Shak.), a kind of dog; Wa′tershed, the line which separates two river-basins: a district from which several rivers rise; Wa′ter-side, the brink of water: the sea-shore; Wa′ter-smoke, water evaporating as visible mist; Wa′ter-snake, a snake frequenting the water; Wa′ter-sol′dier, an aquatic plant (Stratiotes aloïdes) common in lakes and ditches in the east of England; Wa′ter-span′iel (see Spaniel); Wa′ter-spī′der, an aquatic spider; Wa′terspout, a pipe from which water spouts: a moving spout or column of water, often seen at sea, and sometimes on land; Wa′ter-sprin′kle (Spens.), a water-pot; Wa′ter-sprite, a spirit inhabiting the water.—adj. Wa′ter-stand′ing (Shak.), containing water, tearful.—ns. Wa′ter-strid′er, any aquatic heteropterous insect of the family Hydrobatidæ; Wa′ter-supply′, the obtaining and distribution of sufficient water to the inhabitants of a town: the amount of water thus distributed; Wa′ter-tā′ble, a moulding or other projection in the wall of a building to throw off the water; Wa′ter-tank, a tank or cistern for holding water; Wa′ter-tap, a tap or cock used for letting out water; Wa′ter-thermom′eter, a thermometer filled with water instead of mercury, and used for showing the point at which water acquires its greatest density; Wa′ter-thief (Shak.), a pirate.—adj. Wa′ter-tight, so tight as not to admit water nor let it escape—(Water-tight compartment, a division of a ship's hull or other sub-aqueous structure so formed that water cannot enter it from any other part; see Bulkhead).—ns. Wa′ter-tube, a pipe for rain-water; Wa′ter-twist, a kind of cotton-twist, first made by the water-frame; Wa′ter-vī′olet, a plant of the genus Hottonia; Wa′ter-vole, the common European water-rat; Wa′ter-wag′tail, a wagtail, the pied wagtail; Wa′ter-way (naut.) a series of pieces of timber, extending round a ship at the junction of the decks with the sides, pierced by scuppers to carry off the water: a water-route; Wa′terwheel, a wheel moved by water: an engine for raising water; Wa′terwork (mostly in pl.) any work or engine by which water is furnished, as to a town, &c.: a textile fabric, used like tapestry: (slang) used humorously of shedding tears.—adj. Wa′ter-worn, worn by the action of water.—n. Wa′ter-wraith, a water-spirit supposed to portend death.—adj. Wa′tery, pertaining to or like water: thin or transparent: tasteless: weak, vapid: affecting water (of the moon, as governing the tide): (Shak.) eager.—ns. High′-wa′ter, High′-wa′ter-mark (see High); Low′-wa′ter (see Low); Low′-wa′ter-mark, the limit of water at low tide: the lowest point of anything.—Water of life, spiritual refreshment: (Scot.) whisky; Water on the brain, knee, an accumulation of serous fluid in the cranial cavity, knee-joint; Watered silk, silk on which a changeable pattern has been worked by means of pressing and moistening.—Above water, out of trouble; Aerated water (see Aerate); Apollinaris water, an agreeable table-water, obtained in Rhenish Prussia; Bag of waters, the fœtal membranes, filled with liquor amnii, which dilate the mouth of the womb; Cast a person's water, to examine urine to aid in the diagnosis of disease; Deep water, or waters, water too deep for safety, sore trouble, distress; First water, the highest degree of fineness in a diamond, &c., hence the highest rank generally; Hold water, to be correct or well-grounded, to stand investigation; Holy water, water used symbolically as a means of purification; Like water, with the quick, full flow of water: extravagantly, recklessly; Make the mouth water, to arouse in any one a strong desire for a thing—from the gathering of saliva in the mouth at the prospect of a savoury morsel; Make water, to micturate; Mineral water (see Mineral); Oil on troubled waters, anything that allays or assuages, from the effect of pouring oil on rough water; Tread water, to keep the head above water by an up-and-down movement of the feet; Under water, below the surface; White water, breakers, foaming water. [A.S. wæter; Dut. water, Ger. wasser; Gr. hydōr, L. udus, wet, unda, a wave, Sans. udan, water.]
Watling Street, wat′ling strët, n. one of the great Roman highways of Britain, commencing at Dover, passing through Canterbury and Rochester to London, and thence to Chester and York, and northwards in two branches to Carlisle and the Wall in the neighbourhood of Newcastle.
Watt, wot, n. the practical unit of electrical activity or power—from James Watt (1736-1819).
Watteau bodice, wat′ō bod′is, n. a bodice with a square opening at the neck resembling the costumes in the paintings of the French artist Antoine Watteau (1684-1721).