water towern.
/ˈwɔːtə ˌtaʊə/, U.S. /ˈwɔdər ˌtaʊ(ə)r/, /ˈwɑdər ˌtaʊ(ə)r/ 1. Any of various kinds of tower within which water may be stored; (in later use chiefly) spec. a free-standing tower housing an elevated water tank, whose height creates the pressure required to distribute the water through a piped system.In quot. c1330 perhaps: a tower or fortified position which incorporates a reservoir or cistern.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > lake > pool > [noun] > store of water > water-tower
water towerc1330
c1330 (?a1300) Richard Coer de Lyon (Auch.) l. 169 in Englische Studien (1885) 8 117 (MED) Þe folk is vrn to þe water tour For to don hem þer socour.
a1587 L. Aldersey in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1589) i. 179 Then did he bring mee to the water tower of the same Citie [sc. Augsburg], that by a sleight and deuise, hath the water brought vp as high, as any Church in the towne.
1646 N. Lancaster Chesters Enlargement in Sir W. Breretons Let. 28 Our Cannon..battered the water Tower, by which water was conveighed into the whole City.
1730 E. Wright Some Observ. France, Italy, &c. II. 499 There are in this Town [sc. Augsburg] three Water-Towers, in which the Water is raised by Engines a hundred and thirty foot.
1835 W. Matthews Hydraulia xi. 210 The baths of Caracalla had a water tower to receive their supply from one of the aqueducts which passed near to the Appian way.
1849 J. Gibbs Considerations Sewage London 15 One [water station] may be placed in Smithfield..forty-four feet above high water-mark, with an additional elevation by a water tower of fifty feet, by which the whole of the City sewers will be cleansed.
1877 R. H. Roberts Harry Holbrooke of Holbrooke Hall iii. 38 In rear of the observatory a large water-tower raised its head.
1909 Pop. Mech. Dec. 740/1 The reinforced concrete water tower here illustrated is interesting because of its great capacity.
1967 J. H. Stephens Water & Waste iii. 49 The purpose of the service reservoir, and its close relative, the water tower, is to allow for the peaks in demand.
2001 Financial Times 27 Jan. (Property Suppl.) 4/2 Campden Hill's residents were familiar opponents of Thames Water before this issue arose, having had a previous skirmish with it over the siting of a water tower in Holland Park.
2. A piece of firefighting apparatus for enabling water to be discharged at a height, in order to extinguish fires in the upper parts of a building, originally consisting of a long erectable metal tube mounted on a wheeled frame.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > a substance or apparatus for extinguishing > apparatus for upper stories of buildings
water tower1879
snorkel1959
1879 Fireman's Jrnl. 24 May 427/1 Our engraving exhibits a Portable Stand Pipe Fire Extinguishing Apparatus; or, as it is called, a Water Tower, ready for a ‘run’.
1916 A. B. Reeve Poisoned Pen iii. 61 Four engines, two hook-and-ladders, a water-tower, the battalion chief and a deputy are hurrying to that fire.
1948 Irish Times 3 Aug. 1/6 Spectators..watched the firemen directing their hoses on the flames from a mobile water tower.
2014 Falmouth Packet (Nexis) 19 July Firefighting was taken to a safer distance, using the aerial ladder platform as a water tower.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2015; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.c1330- to take feeding
- to take feeding of
- to take fine
- to take fire
- to take five
- to take flesh and blood
- to take fley
- to take flight
- to take fong the cross
- to take for
- to take for a gospel
- to take for a ride
- to take for a sleigh ride
- to take for fable
- to take for gospel
- to take for granted
- to take for scripture
- to take for the gospel
- to take forever
- to take forfeit of
- to take forth
- to take forth one's etc
- to take forth one's journey
- to take forth one's road
- to take forth one's way