waterwork

English

Etymology

From Late Middle English [Term?], analysable as water +‎ work.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈwɔːtəˌwəːk/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈwɔtɚˌwɚk/, [-ɾɚ-]
• Hyphenation: wa‧ter‧work

Noun

waterwork (countable and uncountable, plural waterworks)

1. (countable) A machine or mechanism for raising or carrying water.
2. (countable, art) A textile fabric used like tapestry.
3. (countable, uncountable) Some action or activity done on, in, or using water.
4. (uncountable, art) A style of painting executed in distemper or size, on canvas or a wall, intended to resemble a tapestry; (countable) such a painting.
   • c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:

     [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
   1. (historical) A hydraulic apparatus by which a supply of water is furnished for ornamental purposes; also, an ornamental fountain or waterfall.
   2. (construction, archaic) Engineering works relating to the conveyance and flow of fluids (principally water), such as the collection and distribution of water, drainage, irrigation, etc.

Translations

machine or mechanism for raising or carrying water

textile fabric used like tapestry

some action or activity done on, in, or using water

style of painting intended to resemble a tapestry; such a painting