watch the pass v. phr. Another free thing that Nantucketers have been taking advantage of for centuries is what is known as “watching the pass.” Also known as sitting on a bench downtown and getting a good look at the tourists and other folks. Hey, it’s much cheaper than cable. And it’s interactive. [MassachusettsEnglishColloquial] [full cite] (May. 30, 2007)
watch wardrobing n. This transformation of the business has also given rise to some horrendous new terminology, with “watch wardrobing” and “accessorizing your wrist” as two of the more egregious examples of the marketer’s dark craft. [EnglishApparel, Appearance, & Fashion] [full cite] (Nov. 29, 2007)
water boarding n. In the case of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, a high-level detainee who is believed to have helped plan the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, C.I.A. interrogators used graduated levels of force, including a technique known as “water boarding,” in which a prisoner is strapped down, forcibly pushed under water and made to believe he might drown. [EnglishMilitaryJargon] [full cite] (May. 13, 2004)
water boarding n. There’s what I call the WaterHood, also known as “water boarding’ or the “watercure,” where interrogators shove a prisoner’s head in abarrel of water and make him think he’s drowning. Actually, heis drowning; they just save him from death at the lastsecond (if all goes well). [EnglishUnited StatesCrime & PrisonsMilitaryPoliticsJargon] [full cite] (Jun. 3, 2004)
water buffalo n. Larson said his “water buffaloes,” a term used to describe experts in the water field, took advantage of the lull to sway his thinking, too. They didn’t like the idea of bringing water quality into the mix. [EnglishEnvironmentSlang] [full cite] (May. 3, 2006)
water buffalo n. Other times foundations fracture and wells crack, the water draining away. “Water buffalo”—the local term for replacement water tanks wrapped in white insulation—graze in backyards and side lots. [EnglishSlang] [full cite] (May. 16, 2008)
water chestnut n. Best of all, “water chestnut,” which, for reasons that elude me, refers to a Japanese male homosexual. Just be careful next time you’re in a Chinese restaurant, you breeders: who knows what you might be ordering. [EnglishGaySex & SexualitySlang] [full cite] (Jan. 12, 2008)
water hammer n. Storage and release of energy in the fluid also occurs during a phenomenon know as “water hammer.” Water hammer is the term used to describe the effect that occurs when the velocity of the fluid moving through a pipe suddenly changes. This change causes a pressure wave to propagate within the pipe. Under certain conditions, it can create a banging noise, similar to the noise made when beating a pipe with a hammer, hence the term water hammer. Not surprisingly, common symptoms of this problem are high noise levels, vibration and broken pipes. [English] [full cite] (Sep. 29, 2006)