Water tender. (Nav.) In the United States navy, a first-class petty officer in charge in a fireroom. He "tends" water to the boilers, sees that fires are properly cleaned and stoked, etc. There is also a rating of chief water tender, who is a chief petty officer.
Water tower. A tower or standpipe used as a reservoir to deliver water at a required head, as to a fountain.
Water tube. Any tube for passing or holding water; specif., in some steam boilers, a tube in which water circulates and steam is generated.
Wat*teau" (?), a. (Art) Having the appearance of that which is seen in pictures by Antoine Watteau, a French painter of the eighteenth century; -- said esp. of women's garments; as, a Watteau bodice.
Watteau back. The back of a woman's gown in which one or more very broad folds are carried from the neck to the floor without being held in at the waist, while the front and sides of the gown are shaped to the person and have a belt or its equivalent.
Wat"tle (?), n. 1. Material consisting of wattled twigs, withes, etc., used for walls, fences, and the like. "The pailsade of wattle." Frances Macnab.
2. (Bot.) In Australasia, any tree of the genus Acacia; -- so called from the wattles, or hurdles, which the early settlers made of the long, pliable branches or of the split stems of the slender species.
Watt"less (?), a. (Elec.) Without any power (cf. Watt); -- said of an alternating current or component of current when it differs in phase by ninety degrees from the electromotive force which produces it, or of an electromotive force or component thereof when the current it produces differs from it in phase by 90 degrees.
Wave, n. Something resembling or likened to a water wave, as in rising unusually high, in being of unusual extent, or in progressive motion; a swelling or excitement, as of feeling or energy; a tide; flood; period of intensity, usual activity, or the like; as, a wave of enthusiasm.
Wax"works` (?), n. pl. An exhibition of wax figures, or the place of exhibition.
Weak (?), a. 1. (Stock Exchange) Tending toward a lower price or lower prices; as, wheat is weak; a weak market.
2. (Card Playing) Lacking in good cards; deficient as to number or strength; as, a hand weak in trumps.