Water hen
1. (Zoology) Any gallinule.

2. (Zoology) The common American coot.

Water hog (Zoology) The capybara.

Water horehound (Botany) Bugleweed.

Water hyacinth (Botany) Either of several tropical aquatic plants of the genus Eichhornia , related to the pickerel weed.

Water ice Water flavored, sweetened, and frozen, to be eaten as a confection.

Water inch Same as Inch of water , under Water .

Water joint (Architecture) A joint in a stone pavement where the stones are left slightly higher than elsewhere, the rest of the surface being sunken or dished. The raised surface is intended to prevent the settling of water in the joints.

Water junket (Zoology) The common sandpiper.

Water laverock (Zoology) The common sandpiper.

Water leg (Steam Boilers) See Leg , 7.

Water lemon (Botany) The edible fruit of two species of passion flower ( Passiflora laurifolia , and P. maliformis ); -- so called in the West Indies.

Water lettuce (Botany) A plant ( Pistia stratiotes ) which floats on tropical waters, and forms a rosette of spongy, wedge-shaped leaves. J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants).

Water level
1. The level formed by the surface of still water.

2. A kind of leveling instrument. See under Level , noun

Water lily (Botany) A blossom or plant of any species of the genus Nymphæa, distinguished for its large floating leaves and beautiful flowers. See Nymphæa .

» The name is extended to various plants of other related genera, as Nuphar , Euryale , Nelumbo , and Victoria . See Euryale , Lotus , and Victoria , 1.

Water lime Hydraulic lime.

Water line
1. (Shipbuilding) Any one of certain lines of a vessel, model, or plan, parallel with the surface of the water at various heights from the keel.

» In a half-breadth plan, the water lines are outward curves showing the horizontal form of the ship at their several heights; in a sheer plan, they are projected as straight horizontal lines.

2. (Nautical) Any one of several lines marked upon the outside of a vessel, corresponding with the surface of the water when she is afloat on an even keel. The lowest line indicates the vessel's proper submergence when not loaded, and is called the light water line ; the highest, called the load water line , indicates her proper submergence when loaded.

Water-line model (Shipbuilding) , a model of a vessel formed of boards which are shaped according to the water lines as shown in the plans and laid upon each other to form a solid model.

Water lizard (Zoology) Any aquatic lizard of the genus Varanus , as the monitor of the Nile. See Monitor , noun , 3.

Water locust (Botany) A thorny leguminous tree ( Gleditschia monosperma ) which grows in the swamps of the Mississippi valley.

Water meadow (Agriculture) A meadow, or piece of low, flat land, capable of being kept in a state of fertility by being overflowed with water from some adjoining river or stream.

Water measure A measure formerly used for articles brought by water, as coals, oysters, etc. The water-measure bushel was three gallons larger than the Winchester bushel. Cowell.

Water measurer (Zoology) Any one of numerous species of water; the skater. See Skater , noun , 2.

Water meter A contrivance for measuring a supply of water delivered or received for any purpose, as from a street main.

Water milfoil (Botany) Any plant of the genus Myriophyllum , aquatic herbs with whorled leaves, the submersed ones pinnately parted into capillary divisions.

Water mill A mill whose machinery is moved by water; -- distinguished from a windmill , and a steam mill .

Water mint A kind of mint ( Mentha aquatica ) growing in wet places, and sometimes having a perfume resembling bergamot.

Water mite (Zoology) Any of numerous species of aquatic mites belonging to Hydrachna and allied genera of the family Hydrachnidæ , usually having the legs fringed and adapted for swimming. They are often red or red and black in color, and while young are parasites of fresh-water insects and mussels. Called also water tick , and water spider .

Water moccasin (Zoology) A venomous North American snake ( Ancistrodon piscivorus ) allied to the rattlesnake but destitute of a rattle. It lives in or about pools and ponds, and feeds largely of fishes. Called also water snake , water adder , water viper .

Water mole (Zoology) (a) The shrew mole. See under Shrew . (b) The duck mole. See under Duck .

Water monitor (Zoology) A very large lizard ( Varanaus salvator ) native of India. It frequents the borders of streams and swims actively. It becomes five or six feet long. Called also two-banded monitor , and kabaragoya . The name is also applied to other aquatic monitors.

Water monkey A jar or bottle, as of porous earthenware, in which water is cooled by evaporation.

Water motor
1. A water engine.

2. A water wheel; especially, a small water wheel driven by water from a street main.

Water mouse (Zoology) Any one of several species of mice belonging to the genus Hydromys , native of Australia and Tasmania. Their hind legs are strong and their toes partially webbed. They live on the borders of streams, and swim well. They are remarkable as being the only rodents found in Australia.

Water murrain A kind of murrain affecting cattle. Crabb.

Water newt (Zoology) Any one of numerous species of aquatic salamanders; a triton.

Water nymph
1. (Myth.) A goddess of any stream or other body of water, whether one of the Naiads, Nereids, or Oceanides.

2. (Botany) A water lily ( Nymphæa ).

Water oat Indian rice. See under Rice .

Water opossum (Zoology) See Yapock , and the Note under Opossum .

Water ordeal Same as Ordeal by water . See the Note under Ordeal , noun , 1.

Water ousel, Water ouzel (Zoology) Any one of several species of small insessorial birds of the genus Cinclus (or Hydrobates ), especially the European water ousel ( C. aquaticus ), and the American water ousel ( C. Mexicanus ). These birds live about the water, and are in the habit of walking on the bottom of streams beneath the water in search of food.

Water parsnip (Botany) Any plant of the aquatic umbelliferous genus Sium , poisonous herbs with pinnate or dissected leaves and small white flowers.

Water parting (Physics Geology) A summit from the opposite sides of which rain waters flow to different streams; a line separating the drainage districts of two streams or coasts; a divide.

Water partridge (Zoology) The ruddy duck. [ Local, U. S.]

Water pennywort (Botany) Marsh pennywort. See under Marsh .

Water pepper (Botany) (a) Smartweed. (b) Waterwort.

Water pheasant (Zoology) (a) The pintail. See Pintail , noun , 1. (b) The goosander. (c) The hooded merganser.

Water piet (Zoology) The water ousel.

Water pig
1. (Zoology) The capybara.

2. (Zoology) The gourami.

Water pillar A waterspout. [ Obsolete]

Water pimpernel (Botany) A small white- flowered shrub; brookweed.

Water pipe A pipe for conveying water.