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 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.