1721. Amherst, Terra Filius, 1. 'Twas all water language at these times, and no exceptions were to be taken.
Waterloo-day, subs. phr. (military).—Pay-day:
cf. Balaclava-day.
Waterman, subs. (old).—A blue
silk handkerchief: cf. Fogle.
[Hotten: 'The friends of the
Oxford and Cambridge boats'
crews always wear these—light
blue for Cambridge, and a darker
shade for Oxford.'] Also waters-*man.
Waterologer. See Water,
verb 2.
Water-pad (or -rat).—A thief
working on the water: spec.
'one that Robbs Ships in the
Thames' (B. E., Grose, and
Clark Russell): cf. Water-sneak.
Water-pusher (or -treader),
subs. phr. (colloquial).—A ship:
sail or steam.
1614. Chapman, Odyssey, xiv. 477. When the water treader far away Had left the land.
1899. Hyne, Furth. Adv. Copt. Kettle, xi. I've had enough of your airs and graces. I've paid for my passage on this rubbishy old water-pusher of yours.
Water-sneak (The), subs. phr.
(old).—'Robbing ships or vessels
on a navigable river or canal, by
getting on board unperceived,
generally in the night. The
water-sneak is lately made a
capital offence' (Grose).
Waterworks. See Water-drop
and Water, verb 2.
Watlynge-strete, subs. phr.
(old).—The Milky Way.
1373. Chaucer, House of Fame, 939. Se yonder, lo the Galaxye, The which men clepe the Milky Weye, For hit ys white; and somme parfeye, Callen hyt Watlynge Strete.
Wattle, subs. (B. E.).—In pl. =
'Ears; also Sheep-folds.'
Wave. To wave a flag of
defiance, verb. phr. (common).—to
be drunk: see Screwed.
To number the waves, verb. phr. (old).—To do the un-*needful, act foolishly (Ray).
Wavy. Wavy in the syls, phr.
(theatrical).—Imperfect in one's
lines.
Wavy-rule. To make wavy
rule, verb. phr. (printers').—To be
staggering drunk. []
Wax, subs. (common).—A rage, a
passion, a tear (q.v.); also
waxiness = vexation, and waxy
= angry: cf. Lowland Scotch
wex = vex.
c. 1490. Lancelot of the Laik, 156. And mak thi self als mery as yhoue may, It helpith not thus fore to wex al way.
1648. Bellenden, Letter, 9 July [Hamilton Papers, 229]. They wowld place such persons in inferior commandis as ar to deboch the affections of the salers, from which being discouerid be him makes him the moir waxy.
1853. Dickens, Bleak House, xxiv. It would cheer him up more than anything if I could make him a little waxy with me: he's welcome to drop into me right and left, if he likes.
1861. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, v. She's in a terrible wax, but she'll be all right by the time he comes back from his holidays.
