search of water, it is therefore expedient to look for
the depressed side of the strata.

WATER-SHOT, OR QUARTER-SHOT. When a ship is moored, neither across the
tide, nor right up and down, but quartering between both.

WATER-SHUT. An old name for a flood-gate.

WATER-SKY. In Arctic seas, a dark and dull leaden appearance of the
atmosphere, the reflected blue of the sea indicating clear water in that
direction, and forming a strong contrast to the pale _blink_ over land
or ice.

WATER-SNAKES. A group of snakes (_Hydrophis_), whose habitat is the sea.
Some of them are finely coloured, and generally very like land-snakes,
except that their tails are broader, so as to scull or propel them
through the water.

WATER-SPACE. The intervening part between the flues of a steamer's
boiler.

WATER-SPOUT. A large mass of water collected in a vertical column, and
moving rapidly along the surface of the sea. As contact with one has
been supposed dangerous, it has been suggested to fire cannon at them,
to break the continuity by aerial concussion. In this phenomenon, heat
and electricity seem to take an active part, but their cause is not
fully explained, and any facts respecting them by observers favourably
placed will help towards further researches into their nature. (_See_
WHIRLWIND.)

WATER-STANG. A spar or pole fixed across a stream.

WATER-STEAD. An old name for the bed of a river.

WATER-STOUP. A northern name for the common periwinkle.

WATER-TAKING. A pond, the water of which is potable.

WATER-TANKS. _See_ TANK.

WATER-TIGHT. Well caulked, and so compact as to prevent the admission of
water. The reverse of _leaky_.

WATER-WAYS. Certain deck-planks which are wrought next to the timbers;
they serve to connect the sides of a ship to her decks, and form a
channel to carry off any water by means of scuppers.

WATER-WAR. A name for the bore or hygre of the Severn.

WATER-WITCH. A name of the dipper.

WATER-WRAITH. Supposed water-spirits, prognosticating evil, in the
Shetland Islands.

WATH. A passage or ford through a river.

WATTLES. A kind of hair or small bristles near the mouth and nostrils of
certain fish. Also, hurdles made by weaving twigs together.

WAVE [from the Anglo-Saxon _waeg_]. A volume of water rising in surges
above the general level, and elevated in proportion to the wind.

WAVESON. Such goods as after shipwreck appear floating on the waves.
(_See_ FLOTSAM.)

WAVING. Signals made by ar