Waterwork
//ˈwɔːtəˌwəːk// noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A machine or mechanism for raising or carrying water. countable
- 2 A textile fabric used like tapestry. countable
- 3 Some action or activity done on, in, or using water. countable, uncountable
- 4 A style of painting executed in distemper or size, on canvas or a wall, intended to resemble a tapestry; (countable) such a painting. uncountable
"[F]or thy wals a pretty ſleight drollery, or the ſtorie of the prodigal, or the Iarman hunting in waterworke, is worth a thouſand of theſe bed-hangers, and theſe flie bitten tapeſtrie, let it be x. ♇ [i.e., ten pounds] if thou canſt: [...]"
- 5 Alternative form of waterworks.; A hydraulic apparatus by which a supply of water is furnished for ornamental purposes; also, an ornamental fountain or waterfall. countable, historical, uncountable
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- 6 Alternative form of waterworks.; Engineering works relating to the conveyance and flow of fluids (principally water), such as the collection and distribution of water, drainage, irrigation, etc. archaic, countable, uncountable
Example
More examples"[F]or thy wals a pretty ſleight drollery, or the ſtorie of the prodigal, or the Iarman hunting in waterworke, is worth a thouſand of theſe bed-hangers, and theſe flie bitten tapeſtrie, let it be x. ♇ [i.e., ten pounds] if thou canſt: [...]"
Etymology
From Late Middle English [Term?], analysable as water + work.
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.