Wa"ter snake` (?). (Zoöl.) (a) A common North American colubrine snake
(Tropidonotus sipedon) which lives chiefly in the water. (b) Any
species of snakes of the family Homalopsidæ, all of which are aquatic
in their habits.
Wa"ter-soak` (?), v. t. To soak water; to fill the interstices of with
water.
Wa"ter sol`dier (?). (Bot.) An aquatic European plant (Stratiotes
aloides) with bayonet-shaped leaves.
Wa"ter souch`y (?). (Cookery) A dish consisting of small fish stewed
and served in a little water. [Written also water souchet.] See Zoutch.
Wa"ter span"iel (?). A curly-haired breed of spaniels, naturally very
fond of the water.
Wa"ter spar"row (?). (Zoöl.) (a) The reed warbler. [Prov. Eng.] (b) The
reed bunting. [Prov. Eng.]
Wa"ter speed"well (?). (Bot.) A kind of speedwell (Veronica Anagallis)
found in wet places in Europe and America.
Wa"ter spi"der (?). (Zoöl.) (a) An aquatic European spider (Argyoneta
aquatica) which constructs its web beneath the surface of the water on
water plants. It lives in a bell-shaped structure of silk, open beneath
like a diving bell, and filled with air which the spider carries down
in the form of small bubbles attached one at a time to the spinnerets
and hind feet. Called also diving spider. (b) A water mite. (c) Any
spider that habitually lives on or about the water, especially the
large American species (Dolomedes lanceolatus) which runs rapidly on
the surface of water; — called also raft spider.
Wa"ter spin`ner (?). (Zoöl.) The water spider.
Wa"ter*spout` (?), n. A remarkable meteorological phenomenon, of the
nature of a tornado or whirlwind, usually observed over the sea, but
sometimes over the land.
Tall columns, apparently of cloud, and reaching from the sea to the
clouds, are seen moving along, often several at once, sometimes
straight and vertical, at other times inclined and tortuous, but always
in rapid rotation. At their bases, the sea is violently agitated and
heaped up with a leaping or boiling motion, water, at least in some
cases, being actually carried up in considerable quantity, and
scattered round from a great height, as solid bodies are by tornadoes
on land. Sir J. Herschel.
Wa"ter sprite` (?). A sprite, or spirit, imagined as inhabiting the
water. J. R. Drake.
Wa"ter-stand`ing (?), a. Tear- filled. [R.] "Many an orphan's
water-standing eye." Shak.
Wa"ter star" grass` (?). (Bot.) An aquatic plant (Schollera graminea)
with grassy leaves, and yellow star-shaped blossoms.
Wa"ter star"wort` (?). See under Starwort.
Wa"ter sup*ply" (?). A supply of water; specifically, water collected,
as in reservoirs, and conveyed, as by pipes, for use in a city, mill,
or the like.
Wa"ter tab"by (?). A kind of waved or watered tabby. See Tabby, n., 1.
Wa"ter ta"ble (?). (Arch.) A molding, or other projection, in the wall
of a building, to throw off the water, — generally used in the United
States for the first table above the surface of the ground (see Table,
n., 9), that is, for the table at the top of the foundation and the
beginning of the upper wall.
Wa"ter*tath` (?), n. [Water + tath, n.] A kind of coarse grass growing
in wet grounds, and supposed to be injurious to sheep. [Prov. Eng.]
Wa"ter ther*mom"e*ter (?). (Physics) A thermometer filled with water
instead of mercury, for ascertaining the precise temperature at which
water attains its maximum density. This is about 39° Fahr., or 4°
Centigrade; and from that point down to 32° Fahr., or 0° Centigrade, or
the freezing point, it expands.
Wa"ter thief` (?). A pirate. [R.] Shak.
Wa"ter thrush` (?). (Zoöl.) (a) A North American bird of the genus
Seiurus, belonging to the Warbler family, especially the common species
(S. Noveboracensis). (b) The European water ousel. (b) The pied
wagtail.
Wa"ter thyme` (?). (Bot.) See Anacharis.
Wa"ter tick` (?). Same as Water mite.
Wa"ter ti"ger (?). (Zoöl.) A diving, or water, beetle, especially the
larva of a water beetle. See Illust. b of Water beetle.
Wa"ter-tight` (?), a. So tight as to retain, or not to admit, water;
not leaky.
Wa"ter torch` (?). (Bot.) The common cat-tail (Typha latifolia), the
spike of which makes a good torch soaked in oil. Dr. Prior.
Wa"ter tow"er (?). A large metal pipe made to be extended vertically by
sections, and used for discharging water upon burning buildings.
Wa"ter tree` (?). (Bot.) A climbing shrub (Tetracera alnifolia, or
potatoria) of Western Africa, which pours out a watery sap from the
freshly cut stems.
Wa"ter tre"foil` (?). (Bot.) The buck bean.
Wa"ter tube` (?). (Zoöl.) One of a system of tubular excretory organs
having external openings, found in many invertebrates. They are
believed to be analogous in function to the kidneys of vertebrates. See
Illust. under Trematodea, and Sporocyst.
Wa"ter tu"pe*lo (?). (Bot.) A species of large tupelo (Nyssa aquatica)
growing in swamps in the southern of the United States. See Ogeechee
lime.
Wa"ter tur"key (?). (Zoöl.) The American snakebird. See Snakebird.
Wa"ter tu tu`yère" (?). A tuyère kept cool by water circulating within
a casing. It is used for hot blast.
Wa"ter tu twist` (?). Yarn made by the throstle, or water frame.
<! p. 1634 !>
Wa"ter vine` (?). (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Phytocrene, climbing
shrubs of Asia and Africa, the stems of which are singularly porous,
and when cut stream with a limpid potable juice.
Wa"ter vi"o*let (?). (Bot.) See under Violet.
Wa"ter vi"per (?). (Zoöl.) See Water moccasin.
Wa"ter vole` (?). (Zoöl.) See under Vole.
Wa"ter wag"tail` (?). See under Wagtail.
Wa"ter*way` (?), n. (Naut.) Heavy plank or timber extending fore and
aft the whole length of a vessel's deck at the line of junction with
the sides, forming a channel to the scuppers, which are cut through it.
In iron vessels the waterway is variously constructed.
Wa"ter way`. Same as Water course.
Wa"ter*weed` (?), n. (Bot.) See Anacharis.
Wa"ter wheel` (?). 1. Any wheel for propelling machinery or for other
purposes, that is made to rotate by the direct action of water; —
called an overshot wheel when the water is applied at the top, an
undershot wheel when at the bottom, a breast wheel when at an
intermediate point; other forms are called reaction wheel, vortex
wheel, turbine wheel, etc.