| 释义 |
▪ I. ˈwater-cart, n.
A cart, usually a barrel or tank on wheels, carrying water; chiefly, an apparatus of this kind intended for watering the streets, the receptacle being fitted with an arrangement by which the water escapes through a number of small holes as the vehicle goes along.
1707–21Mortimer Husb., (J.) A gentleman..watered St. foin..with a water-cart. 1789Trans. Soc. Arts II. 49 A barrel cart, or what is commonly called a water-cart. 1801Farmer's Mag. Aug. 278 Some superior managers even supply them [sc. sheep] regularly with water, in long narrow troughs, led by means of a water-cart, while in the fold on dry hay. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. i, Performing the part of three water-carts for the benefit of their dusty roads. 1875Ruskin Fors Clav. V. 56 During the filling of the water-cart, through its leathern pipe, from the dripping iron post at the pavement edge. 1914Daily News 20 Aug. 6 A half battalion..marched up, hoisted their machine guns and watercart aboard, [etc.].
b. Comb., esp. in jocular allusions to weeping.
1837Dickens Pickw. xvi, Come, come,..blow this 'ere water-cart bis'ness. Ibid. xlv, I'm wery much mistaken if that 'ere Jingle worn't a-doin' somethin' in the water-cart way! a1839Hood Ode to St. Swithin 59 Why task yourself to lay the dust in streets, As if there were no Water-Cart contractors.
▪ II. ˈwater-cart, v.
[f. the n.]
a. trans. To provide with water-carts.
b. intr. To weep. slang.
1851Dickens in Househ. Words 2 Aug. 433/1 The great metropolis is..so much more water-carted..than it usually is. 1920W. De Morgan Old Man's Youth (1921) xxix. 282 She makes believe she knew Gromp, and I know she didn't. She'd watercart. |