WATER-BALLAST. Water when used to stiffen a ship, whether carried in casks, tanks, bags, or otherwise. The iron screw-colliers of the present day have immense tanks constructed in their floors, on the upper part of which the coals rest; when they are discharged, the tanks are allowed to fill with water, which acts as ballast for the return voyage, and is pumped out by the engine as the coals are taken in.
WATER-BARK. A small decked vessel or tank, used by the Dutch for carrying fresh water.
WATER-BATTERY. One nearly on a level with the water—à fleur d'eau; a position of much power when vessels cannot get close to it.
WATER-BEWITCHED. Bad tea, geo-graffy, 5-water grog, and the like greatly diluted drinks.
WATER-BORNE. When a ship just floats clear of the ground. Also, goods carried by sea, or on a river.
WATER-CROW. The lesser cormorant, or shag.
WATER-DOG. See [Water-gall].
WATER-FLEAS. The groups of crustaceous organisms classed as Entomostraca.
WATER-GAGE. A sea wall or bank. Also, an instrument to measure the depth of inundations.
WATER-GALL. A name of the [wind-gall] (which see). Shakspeare, in the Rape of Lucrece, uses the term thus:—