2. Specifically, one who guards a building, or the streets of a city,
by night.
Watchman beetle (Zoöl.), the European dor. — Watchman's clock, a
watchman's detector in which the apparatus for recording the times of
visiting several stations is contained within a single clock. —
Watchman's detector, or Watchman's time detector, an apparatus for
recording the time when a watchman visits a station on his rounds. —
Watchman's rattle, an instrument having at the end of a handle a
revolving arm, which, by the action of a strong spring upon cogs,
produces, when in motion, a loud, harsh, rattling sound.
Watch"tow`er (?), n. A tower in which a sentinel is placed to watch for
enemies, the approach of danger, or the like.
Watch"word` (?), n. 1. A word given to sentinels, and to such as have
occasion to visit the guards, used as a signal by which a friend is
known from an enemy, or a person who has a right to pass the watch from
one who has not; a countersign; a password.
2. A sentiment or motto; esp., one used as a rallying cry or a signal
for action.
Nor deal in watchwords overmuch.
Tennyson.
Wa"ter (w"tr), n. [AS. wæter; akin to OS. watar, OFries. wetir, weter,
LG. & D. water, G. wasser, OHG. wazzar, Icel. vatn, Sw. vatten, Dan.
vand, Goth. wat, O. Slav. & Russ. voda, Gr. 'y`dwr, Skr. udan water, ud
to wet, and perhaps to L. unda wave. √137. Cf. Dropsy, Hydra, Otter,
Wet, Whisky.] 1. The fluid which descends from the clouds in rain, and
which forms rivers, lakes, seas, etc. "We will drink water." Shak.
"Powers of fire, air, water, and earth." Milton.
Pure water consists of hydrogen and oxygen, H2O, and is a colorless,
odorless, tasteless, transparent liquid, which is very slightly
compressible. At its maximum density, 39° Fahr. or 4° C., it is the
standard for specific gravities, one cubic centimeter weighing one
gram. It freezes at 32° Fahr. or 0° C. and boils at 212° Fahr. or 100°
C. (see Ice, Steam). It is the most important natural solvent, and is
frequently impregnated with foreign matter which is mostly removed by
distillation; hence, rain water is nearly pure. It is an important
ingredient in the tissue of animals and plants, the human body
containing about two thirds its weight of water.
2. A body of water, standing or flowing; a lake, river, or other
collection of water.
Remembering he had passed over a small water a poor scholar when first
coming to the university, he kneeled.
Fuller.
3. Any liquid secretion, humor, or the like, resembling water; esp.,
the urine.
4. (Pharm.) A solution in water of a gaseous or readily volatile
substance; as, ammonia water. U. S. Pharm.
5. The limpidity and luster of a precious stone, especially a diamond;
as, a diamond of the first water, that is, perfectly pure and
transparent. Hence, of the first water, that is, of the first
excellence.
6. A wavy, lustrous pattern or decoration such as is imparted to linen,
silk, metals, etc. See Water, v. t., 3, Damask, v. t., and Damaskeen.
7. An addition to the shares representing the capital of a stock
company so that the aggregate par value of the shares is increased
while their value for investment is diminished, or "diluted." [Brokers'
Cant]
Water is often used adjectively and in the formation of many
self-explaining compounds; as, water drainage; water gauge, or
water-gauge; waterfowl, water-fowl, or water fowl; water-beaten;
water-borne, water- circled, water-girdled, water-rocked, etc.
Hard water. See under Hard. — Inch of water, a unit of measure of
quantity of water, being the quantity which will flow through an
orifice one inch square, or a circular orifice one inch in diameter, in
a vertical surface, under a stated constant head; also called miner's
inch, and water inch. The shape of the orifice and the head vary in
different localities. In the Western United States, for hydraulic
mining, the standard aperture is square and the head from 4 to 9 inches
above its center. In Europe, for experimental hydraulics, the orifice
is usually round and the head from of an inch to 1 inch above its top.
— Mineral water, waters which are so impregnated with foreign
ingredients, such as gaseous, sulphureous, and saline substances, as to
give them medicinal properties, or a particular flavor or temperature.
— Soft water, water not impregnated with lime or mineral salts. — To
hold water. See under Hold, v. t. — To keep one's head above water, to
keep afloat; fig., to avoid failure or sinking in the struggles of
life. [Colloq.] — To make water. (a) To pass urine. Swift. (b) (Naut.)
To admit water; to leak. — Water of crystallization (Chem.), the water
combined with many salts in their crystalline form. This water is
loosely, but, nevertheless, chemically, combined, for it is held in
fixed and definite amount for each substance containing it. Thus, while
pure copper sulphate, CuSO4, is a white amorphous substance, blue
vitriol, the crystallized form, CuSO4.5H2O, contains five molecules of
water of crystallization. — Water on the brain (Med.), hydrocephalus. —
Water on the chest (Med.), hydrothorax.
Other phrases, in which water occurs as the first element, will be
found in alphabetical order in the Vocabulary.
Wa"ter (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Watered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Watering.]
[AS. wæterian, gewæterian.]
1. To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow with water; to
irrigate; as, to water land; to water flowers.
With tears watering the ground.
Milton.
Men whose lives gilded on like rivers that water the woodlands.
Longfellow.
2. To supply with water for drink; to cause or allow to drink; as, to
water cattle and horses.
3. To wet and calender, as cloth, so as to impart to it a lustrous
appearance in wavy lines; to diversify with wavelike lines; as, to
water silk. Cf. Water, n., 6.
4. To add water to (anything), thereby extending the quantity or bulk
while reducing the strength or quality; to extend; to dilute; to
weaken.
To water stock, to increase the capital stock of a company by issuing
new stock, thus diminishing the value of the individual shares. Cf.
Water, n., 7. [Brokers' Cant]
Wa"ter, v. i. 1. To shed, secrete, or fill with, water or liquid
matter; as, his eyes began to water.
If thine eyes can water for his death.
Shak.