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单词 shower
释义

showern.1

Brit. /ˈʃaʊə/, U.S. /ˈʃaʊ(ə)r/
Forms: Old English sceor (rare), Old English scyur (Northumbrian), Old English–Middle English scur, late Old English–Middle English scyr, Middle English chouris (plural), Middle English chowrys (plural), Middle English schomes (plural, transmission error), Middle English schor, Middle English schorowe, Middle English schorrys (plural), Middle English schour, Middle English schoure, Middle English schowr, Middle English schowre, Middle English scour, Middle English shorow, Middle English shwre, Middle English sour, Middle English sthoure (transmission error), Middle English sures (plural), Middle English–1500s schower, Middle English–1600s shour, Middle English–1600s shoure, Middle English–1600s showre, Middle English–1600s shure, Middle English– shower, 1500s schouer, 1500s showere, 1500s sure, 1500s–1600s shewer, 1500s–1600s shewre, 1500s–1700s showr, 1600s shore; N.E.D. (1914) also records the forms Middle English schur, Middle English shor; also Scottish pre-1700 schoure, pre-1700 schowir, pre-1700 schowr, pre-1700 schowre, pre-1700 schuar, pre-1700 schure, pre-1700 1800s schour, 1700s–1800s shure, 1800s shewer, 1800s shoor (Shetland), 1800s shouir, 1800s shour (Shetland), 1800s– shooer.
Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.
Etymology: Cognate with West Frisian skoer , Middle Dutch schuur (also schure ; Dutch schoer ), Old Saxon skūr (Middle Low German schūr ), Old High German scūr (Middle High German schūr , schūre , schour , schoure , German Schauer ), Old Icelandic skúr , Old Swedish skur (Swedish skur ), Old Danish skwr , skywr (Danish skure , skur ), Gothic skura storm, and probably further with Armenian c̣urt cold, the cold, storm < an ablaut variant of the Indo-European base of classical Latin caurus north-west wind, Old Church Slavonic sěverŭ the north, north wind, Lithuanian šiaurė the north. Compare scour n.1 and scour v.1, perhaps ultimately < the same Germanic base. Compare also shower v.In Old English usually a strong masculine; isolated occurrences of an apparent strong feminine nominative plural form scūra and a weak accusative plural form scūran are also attested, but may be the result of scribal error. The rare form sceor shows a spelling of ū̆ as eō̆ after palatalization and assibilation of the initial consonant group; see R. M. Hogg Gram. Old Eng. (1992) I. §§5.66–7, and compare discussion at young adj. and n.1 Specific senses. The motivation for use in sense 9 is unclear; it may reflect allusion to the flowing nature of the translucent fabric from which these items are usually made. In sense 11 in military slang often explained as short for shower of shit, although this combination does not appear to be attested until later (1957 or earlier as shower of shite).
I. A fall of rain, hail, or the like, and senses relating to a flow, stream, outpouring, etc.
1.
a. A fall of rain or other precipitation; (in later use) esp. one that is relatively brief and light.rain shower, hail shower, snow shower, April shower, etc.: see the first element.
(a) Without of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > precipitation or atmospheric moisture > rain > [noun] > a or the fall of rain > shower
showerOE
rain showerOE
rain?c1225
shatter1875
dag-
OE Andreas (1932) 512 Oft þæt gesæleð, þæt we on sælade, scipum under scealcum, þonne sceor cymeð, brecað ofer bæðweg, brimhengestum.
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxxvi. 487 Hi [sc. the saints] eac for folces þwyrnysse heofenan scuras oftugon, & eft miltsiende getiþodon.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 175 Storm..werpeð þat water upward and arereð shures fele.
a1350 Body & Soul (Harl. 2253) l. 115 in A. S. M. Clark Seint Maregrete & Body & Soul (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Michigan) (1972) 146 In forstes ant in snowes, in shures & in cloude, of alle oure riche cloþes, tid vs neuer a shroude.
a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) (1882) iv. l. 751 Þe terys from here eighen two Doun fille, as shour in aperill.
c1450 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 588/48 Imber, a shure.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. iii. 39 Full sharp ar thise showers That renys aboute.
a1557 J. Cheke tr. Gospel St. Matthew (1843) vii. 25 Yeer fell a greet schower.
1576 G. Gascoigne Droomme of Doomes Day i. sig. vii The Lord God rayned from the Lorde, (even from him selfe) not shewers nor dewe, but fyre and brimstone.
1618 J. Taylor Pennyles Pilgrimage C 2 b All the day long it rayned but one showre.
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1645 (1955) II. 407 After a shoure has fall'n.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 317. ¶9 Caught in a Shower..Returned home and dryed my self.
1759 S. Johnson Idler 24 Mar. 89 A shower beating against his windows.
1796 J. Sinclair Statist. Acct. Scotl. XVIII. 105 A good deal of frost in winter, and occasional showers in spring.
1817 G. Rose Diaries (1860) I. 42 I was overtaken by a shower.
1856 S. T. L. Robinson Kansas v. 51 The shower lasted for hours.
1857 Ipswich Jrnl. 4 July On Monday night there was a refreshing shower, which was succeeded on Tuesday by some very heavy rain.
1907 W. Ewing Arab & Druze v. 63 A light shower drifted down the valley.
1957 M. McLaverty in Dublin Mag. Oct. 25 With each shower that passed he saw the hailstones gather in the hoof-marks in the fields.
1998 S. D. Guschov Red Stockings of Cincinnati x. 54 A day-long shower in New Haven forced cancellation of the matchup.
2014 Observer (Nexis) 11 May 55 Generally cloudy and overcast today with scattered showers.
(b) With of, specifying the type of precipitation.In Old English with genitive. Cf. rain's shower (see rain shower n.).
ΚΠ
OE Daniel 575 Þec regna scur weceð and wreceð swa wildu deor.
OE Genesis B 808 Gesweorc up færeð, cymeð hægles scur hefone getenge.
a1300 (c1250) Floris & Blauncheflur (Vitell.) (1966) 70 He..gon Blancheflur bimene Wit teres riue ase a scur of r[e]ne.
c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 1936 Of snowe was fallen aschour.
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 448 Schowre, of reyne, nimbus, imber, crepulum.
1570 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xv. 15 With schouris Of hailstaines, snaw, and sleit!
c1620 A. Hume Of Orthogr. Britan Tongue (1870) i. iii. §2 A shour of hael.
1678 A. Wood Life & Times (1892) II. 412 A vast shore of raine.
1749 Capt. Standige in Naval Chron. 3 207 A lucid interval between showers of snow.
1782 F. Burney Cecilia III. vi. v. 269 They had gone but a few steps, before there came a violent shower of hail.
1825 T. Hook Sayings & Doings 2nd Ser. III. 153 Strong gusts of wind, accompanied by fleeting showers of rain.
1889 ‘Q’ Splendid Spur ii. 12 A brisk shower of hail and sleet drove me to shelter in the Pig Market.
1917 Boys' Life Mar. 3/1 A shower of hail stones..struck him so fiercely that he was obliged to duck and shield his face.
1976 Climatol. Data: National Summary (U.S. Dept. Commerce) 27 3 Light showers of snow or rain occurred along the advancing edge of the cold air.
2000 R. Pilcher Winter Solstice (2001) 49 All Elfrida worried about was whether she could get the sheets off the line before the next shower of rain.
b. gen. A stream or spray of water or other liquid.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > liquid which has been emitted > action or process of emitting copiously > [noun] > in drops
showerc1450
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 2048 (MED) Sike scoures [a1500 Trin. Dublin showrez] were of blude..Þat foles ferd in þe flosches to þe fetelakis.
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. II. iv. ii. 583/1 The penaltie due to sinnes..is washed awaye, as with a showre of water powred downe vpon it.
?1592 Trag. Solyman & Perseda sig. Bv My body distilled such dewy showers of swet, That from the warlike wrinckles of my front, My Palfray coold his thirst.
1627 M. Drayton Battaile Agincourt 20 Their mixed blood ranne downe the walls in showers.
1657 tr. F. de Quevedo Life & Adventures of Buscon 55 The showr of Spittle and Snot which fell upon me, was so violent, that the rest of my words stuck in my teeth.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. viii. 117 A second [prisoner]..had a knack of spitting through his teeth, which fell in showers upon my book.
1859 R. Hunt Guide Mus. Pract. Geol. (ed. 2) 233 This is effected by passing showers of water through the flue by which the [lead] fumes escape.
1874 W. Crookes Pract. Handbk. Dyeing 655 Stuffs..are moistened with an extremely fine shower, produced by allowing water to descend through a sieve of silk.
1922 Smart Set Oct. 122/1 A shower of sweat fell from his forehead. It was frightful.
2006 S. Nicholls Diamond Isle (2007) 10 A fine shower of briny water pattered the deck.
2. In figurative contexts with reference to a period of suffering, adversity, etc. Now usually in plural, and often contrasted with sunshine (cf. sunshine n. 3).
ΚΠ
eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xxxiii. 225 Ðone ungeðyldegan ðonne suiðe lytel scur ðære costunga [L. aura temptationis] mæg onhreran, sua sua lytel wind mæg ðone cið awecgan.
c1450 (c1405) Mum & Sothsegger (BL Add. 41666) (1936) l. 737 (MED) For who hath sight of a showre þat sharpely a-riseth And wil not..kepe with couryng abouue..He is auctor of al þe harme.
a1500 ( J. Lydgate tr. Life St. Alban & St. Amphibal (Lansd.) (1974) l. 2734 (MED) The sonne of liff may clipse no shouris Whoos hevenly bemys..Yeuth lyht of grace to euery creatur.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney tr. Psalms (1963) vii. 14 O, save me from this persecutions show'r.
1665 S. Patrick Parable of Pilgrim xxx. 351 It pleased God so to order it, that this cloud [of indisposition] was cast about him without any showre.
1837 A. Bulmer Script. Hist.: Pt. II 65 Many were the showers that had already beaten on the head of this devoted patriarch: another cloud was now about to burst upon him, and pour the waters of affliction round his path.
1868 W. Morris Earthly Paradise Prol. 65 We..knew the lot of all men should be ours, A chequered day of sunshine and of showers.
1904 Relig. Telescope 7 Sept. 1138/1 Though clouds of sorrow often fall Within these lives of ours, There still is sunshine for us all, With passing of life's showers.
2002 J. Purvis E. Pankhurst xvi. 220 Her temperament was one of sunshine and showers, of highs and lows.
3.
a. A fall of ashes, dust, or other things from (or apparently from) the sky in large quantity. In recent use esp.: the appearance of many meteors in the sky in a short period; a group of meteors sharing a common orbit around the sun and falling annually at particular times from a characteristic radiant point; cf. meteor shower n. at meteor n.1 and adj.1 Compounds 2.In quot. c1400 of the casting down of the fallen angels from heaven into hell.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > falling > [noun] > dropping or falling vertically > copious downfall from above
raineOE
showerOE
hail1600
downpour1872
OE Vercelli Homilies (1992) ii. 56 Þæra liga blæstm..& þa godcundan miht & se hata scur & hellwarena dream..& se fyrena ren.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 227 (MED) So fro heven to helle þat hatel schor laste.
1562 G. Legh Accedens of Armory f. 29v Sonne of ye highe Ioue begotten vpon Danae, shadowed in ye..golden shower.
1592 Countess of Pembroke tr. R. Garnier Antonius ii, in tr. P. de Mornay Disc. Life & Death sig. G3 Bloud raining downe from heau'n in vnknow'n showers.
1667 Philos. Trans. 1665–6 (Royal Soc.) 1 377 (title) A shower of ashes in the Archipelago.
1757 Philos. Trans. 1756 (Royal Soc.) 49 510 Upon the night of the 23d or 24th of October last, when the weather was quite calm, a shower of dust fell upon the decks, tops and sails of the ship.
1828 Physical Geogr. (Libr. Useful Knowl.) i. 5/2 The sky was overcast at mid-day with clouds of ashes, the showers of which covered every thing to the depth of several inches.
1835 D. Olmsted in Jrnl. Franklin Inst. 16 374 On the morning of the 13th of November, there was a slight repetition of the Meteoric Shower, which presented so remarkable a spectacle on the corresponding morning of 1833.
1908 Westm. Gaz. 21 July 12/1 Most showers are exhausted in a single night, or at most two or three nights, but the Perseid meteors persist for over a month.
1950 N.Z. Jrnl. Agric. Feb. 115/2 The pumice lands of the central plateau area of the North Island consists of soils derived from volcanic-ash showers.
2009 R. Lunsford Meteors iii. 11 A star chart..is presented along with parameters of each shower, such as celestial position, radiant drift per day, and geocentric velocity.
2011 Fortean Times Mar. 11/4 Shoppers in Rákóczifalva, Hungary, were puzzled when a shower of frogs fell on them in a thunderstorm on 20 June.
b. A mass of brightly coloured sparks descending from a firework when lit; a firework producing such an effect. Frequently with modifier, as silver, yellow, etc. (see also golden shower n. 3). Cf. rain n.1 5.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > firework > [noun] > parts of > composition producing shower of sparks
star1628
rain1629
shower1753
1753 Public Advertiser 25 May A cascade, and shower of fire, and grand air-balloons, were most magnificently displayed.
1819 C. Grotz Art of making Fireworks 10 This shower is commonly called the peacock's tail, on account of the various colours that appear in it.
1858 Christian Union Feb. 48/1 At the end of these dances there will be a brilliant shower of gold, which will end the amusements for this night.
1866 Chambers's Encycl. VIII. 35/2 Yellow stars and yellow showers are made of nitre [etc.].
1912 Insurance Engin. June 343/1 The use of what are technically known as fireworks showers..[is] hereby prohibited.
1958 Illustr. Weekly India 2 Nov. 56/1 One or the other of them had a pocketful of small rockets, catherine-wheels, showers or crackers.
2011 S. Olson & P. A. Thornton Peopling North Amer. City xi. 326 The likeness to a volcano was enhanced by fireworks: banging stars, opal showers, and silver torrents.
4.
a. A liberal bestowal of something, such as (esp. in early use) grace or mercy from God or (now usually) praise, accolades, etc. Also more generally: a large quantity or amount; a copious supply; a profusion, an abundance.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > abundance > [noun] > profuseness, luxuriousness, or lushness > a profusion or lavish abundance > viewed as flowing or falling
stream971
flood1340
affluencec1390
showera1425
spatec1425
delugec1430
rain1590
spring tide1592
cataract?1614
flux1678
a1425 (c1333–52) L. Minot Poems (1914) 32 (MED) Full swith redy seruis fand þai þare a schowre, For first þai drank of þe swete and seuin [read seþin] of þe sowre.
c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) l. 322 (MED) Fortune..Was vnto Pluto next in ordre set..Hyr gowne was..Chaungeable of sondry dyuerse colowres, To the condycyons accordyng of hyr shoures.
?a1525 (?a1475) Play Sacrament l. 744 in N. Davis Non-Cycle Plays & Fragm. (1970) 81 Of thy gret mercy lett vs receyue þe showre.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1593) i. f. 28v She suspected me by my ouer-vehement showers of affection to Philoclea.
1616 N. Breton Hate of Treason sig. A4v Our gratious King, on whome the King of Grace hath rainde a showre of his eternall Graces.
1751 Affecting Narr. H.M.S. Wager 39 The Sailors,..poured upon them a very plenteous Shower of hard Names and Execrations.
a1771 T. Gray Ess. I in W. Mason Mem. Life & Writings (1775) 194 Light golden showers of plenty o'er the land.
1807 W. Wordsworth To Highland Girl in Poems II. 23 Sweet Highland Girl, a very shower Of beauty is thy earthly dower!
1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India III. vi. i. 21 The revenues, from which so many showers of emolument fell.
1837 Church of Eng. Q. Rev. Apr. 474 Amidst this unceasing shower of books, some undoubtedly possessed great merit.
1888 J. W. Burgon Lives Twelve Good Men I. iv. 405 Hawkins's election..was the signal for a shower of interesting letters of hearty congratulation.
1922 Hunter-Trader-Trapper Mar. 54/2 They heaped showers of compliments upon Bad Eye and praised him to his face.
1953 E. Janeway Leaving Home i. 106 There had always been showers of presents, and the decorations on the tree, the wreaths in the windows were always there.
1989 Japan Econ. Jrnl. (Nexis) 17 June 12 The steep growth was largely due to a shower of new products appearing on the market.
2008 Irish Times 9 Aug. (Sports Suppl.) 6/5 Kieran McGeeney and Paul Grimley deserve a shower of praise for guiding Kildare to this juncture.
b. Chiefly North American, Australian, and New Zealand. A party to which guests bring gifts, usually of a particular kind, for a bride-to-be or (in later use also) an expectant mother; (more generally) any party or event centred around the giving of gifts. Also, in plural: the gifts presented on such an occasion (now rare).In early use frequently with modifier indicating the kind of gifts brought (recorded earliest in linen shower n. at linen adj. and n. Compounds 2; see also kitchen shower n. at kitchen n.1 Compounds 10); now often with modifier indicating the purpose of the party (see baby shower n. at baby n. and adj. Compounds 1g, bridal shower n. at bridal adj. Compounds, wedding shower n. at wedding n. Compounds 2).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > giving > gift or present > [noun] > gifts given by guests at celebration
shower1893
society > leisure > social event > social gathering > party > [noun] > other parties
play-party1796
tail1837
surprise-party1840
street party1845
costume party1850
pound party1869
all-nighter1870
neighbourhood party1870
simcha1874
ceilidh1875
studio party1875
pounding1883
house party1885
private function1888
shower1893
kitchen shower1896
kitchen evening1902
bottle party1903
pyjama party1910
block party1919
house party1923
after-party1943
slumber party1949
office party1950
freeload1952
hukilau1954
BYOB1959
pot party1959
bush party1962
BYO1965
wrap party1978
bop1982
warehouse party1988
rave1989
1893 Rocky Mountain News (Denver) 19 Nov. 13/5 The ‘linen shower’, a revival of an old German custom of presenting the bride-elect with all or a portion of her household linen.
1897 Columbus (Indiana) Star 27 Mar. The children of the Baptist Sunday school surprised Mr. and Mrs. Fuller Swift yesterday evening a handkerchief shower was the nature of surprise.
1904 N.Y. Tribune 27 Oct. 7 The managers of the Home for the Friendless invite the public to a linen shower and reception.
1926 Publishers' Weekly 26 June 2031/1 First comes June, then the showers, the wedding and after the honeymoon the settling down to a home life.
1958 Evening Standard 10 Apr. 8/2 A shower..is really a gift-giving party centred round a luncheon, tea or supper party.
1978 J. Carroll Mortal Friends iv. ii. 394 She wanted to discuss her trousseau and her silver and china patterns and the sort of showers she would want.
2008 M. Carlson Mile in my Flip-flops viii. 96 Holly is Tina's matron of honor and hosting a shower for her tonight.
c. Originally and chiefly U.S. A large number of cards or letters sent to a person to express good wishes on a birthday or other occasion; a coordinated arrangement to send these. Originally and frequently with modifier, as card shower, birthday card shower, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > correspondence > letter > mail > [noun] > person's batch of > type of
shower1906
fan mail1924
1906 Carthage (Indiana) Record 9 Feb. Miss Newsom was the recipient of a letter and post card shower of some eighty letters and cards.
1936 Alton (Illinois) Evening Tel. 24 Dec. 11/2 Plans were made to hold a card shower for Mrs. John Guess, who is ill.
1994 Bangor (Maine) Daily News (Nexis) 24 Sept. Geneva..will celebrate her 101st birthday on Monday, Oct. 3. A shower of cards would be appreciated.
2013 Herald-Times (Bloomington, Indiana) 13 Sept. e4/2 It is suggested that Dot be honored with a card shower.
5. An outpouring or flood of tears. Also in extended use (chiefly poetic): an outpouring of grief, sorrow, etc. †to make showers: to weep (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > sorrow or grief > lamentation or expression of grief > weeping > [noun] > fit(s) of weeping
shower1449
lachrymals1753
weep1836
cry1852
blub1894
J. Metham Amoryus & Cleopes (1916) l. 299 (MED) O Mars..With Venus and Lucyna (the mone) pesybyl be; For masculyne furyus a-yens femenyn schouris Amonge goddys ys ascryuyd but to crwelte.
c1450 (a1400) Orologium Sapientiæ in Anglia (1888) 10 339 (MED) Who schalle ȝive me þat ȝifte þat I maye..see þi lovelye face..so þat I maye wasche hit with þe grettest schorowe of teres.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Mark xiv. f. xciiij This showre of teares which braste out of his iyes, quenched the lyghtning of Goddes wrathe.
1638 T. Heywood Wise Woman iv. ii. G 2 Shall I the shower of all my griefe at once Power out before you?
1665 S. Patrick Parable of Pilgrim xxvii. 302 It was not possible so to repress them [sc. tears], but that all concluded in a plentiful showre.
1798 Weekly Mag. 17 Mar. 200/2 The showers of grief covered their countenances and dimmed their sight.
1818 J. Hogg Brownie of Bodsbeck II. 155 Ah, he's coming, poor fellow—he's takin a pipe to himsel at the house-end—there's a shower i' the heads wi' Barny—his heart can stand naething.
1819 P. B. Shelley Rosalind & Helen 65 Rosalind..wept A shower of burning tears, which fell upon His face.
1846 C. M. Kirkland Western Clearings (new ed.) 25 This brought only another shower of tears.
2004 N.Y. Times 28 Jan. a25/5 ‘We though she was dead,’ the aunt said through a shower of tears.
6. gen. A large number of small objects or fragments falling or moving together or in a mass.
ΚΠ
1648 R. Herrick Hesperides sig. Y7v Love in a showre of Blossomes came Down, and halfe drown'd me with the same.
1698 R. Boulton Exam. Mr. J. Colbatch Bks. 273 This showre of Wheat hath put you in mind of..the Wise Man of Gotham, Pigs, Dogs and Elephants, they all come thundring upon my Head.
1700 S. Parker 6 Philos. Ess. 4 Why might it not be as well a drift or shower of Atoms yet unamass'd, disorderly dancing one amongst another, and at various distances?
1730 J. Thomson Autumn in Seasons 141 The stooping forest pours A rustling shower of yet untimely leaves.
1791 E. Darwin Bot. Garden: Pt. I i. 134 Glad Zephyr..pausing flings Soft showers of roses.
1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. vi. 181 The breaking of the bubbles will throw up a shower of particles.
1876 M. M. Grant Sun-maid I. viii. 239 The leaves were falling in a crimson and russet shower all over the ground.
1943 M. Vassiltchikov Diary 23 Nov. in Berlin Diaries 1940–1945 (1988) 106 There was a shower of broken glass and all three doors of the basement flew into the room, torn off their hinges.
1993 Canad. Living Sept. 46/3 Excellent on pasta with a shower of Parmesan, this sauce also layers beautifully in lasagna.
2015 Mirror (Nexis) 8 Jan. Footage of the blast showed a shower of debris being hurled high into the air.
7. poetic and literary. A stream or effusion of light, colour, sound, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > [noun] > copious or continuous > instance of
streamc900
wellOE
outstreaminga1398
flood1589
profluvium1603
shower1656
gush1704
outgushing1823
outgush1835
outwelling1852
out-flood1859
1656 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. II. v. 110 That shower of light Which upwards doth our minds invite.
1782 W. Cowper Retirement in Poems 276 The stars that sprinkled o'er the vault of night Seem drops descending in a show'r of light.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Let. to — in Posthumous Poems (1824) 61 When from the moist moon rains The inmost shower of it's white fire.
1840 R. S. Hawker Cornish Ballads (1908) 73 What showers of gold the sunbeams rain!
1915 W. A. Bryan Nat. Hist. Hawaii xxi. 307 These blithe singers will mount skyward.., dropping after them a veritable shower of song that could but delight the most careless cross-country rambler.
2012 J. Law Fire Prophet i. 5 A shower of blue light cascaded down all around them.
8. Australian. A dust storm. Frequently with prefixed place name.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > dry weather or climate > [noun] > dust-storm or sand-storm
sandstorm1774
dust-storm1879
shaitan1883
shower1898
1876 Adelaide Observer 4 Nov. 6/6 The Wilcannia Times of October 25 states:—‘..as yet we are only favoured with a continuance of the famous “Darling snow showers”, elswhere [sic] known as duststorms.’]
1898 E. E. Morris Austral Eng. 115/1 Darling Shower, a local name in the interior of Australia, and especially on the River Darling, for a dust storm, caused by cyclonic winds.
1903 ‘T. Collins’ Such is Life vii. 331 The steady intensity of the shower augmented as I went on... The increasing broadside pressure, with the sand and dust, was becoming too much for the horses.
1933 A. B. Paterson Animals Noah Forgot 36 The Bogan shower, that is mostly dust.
1949 Geogr. Mag. Feb. 373 Duststorms are called, in various parts of the country as indicated by the change in operative names, Darling shower, Cobar shower, Bedourie shower and Wilcannia shower.
2001 J. Robinson Voices of Queensland iii. 73 Bedourie, also called Bedourie shower. A dust storm, named after the small town of Bedourie in western Queensland [etc.].
9. New Zealand. A light fabric protective cover which is spread over food, cups and saucers, etc., set out on a table or tray. Also more fully tea-shower.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > household linen > table linen > [noun] > others
table napkin1564
tea-cosy1863
tray-cloth1889
egg-cosy1894
shower1931
1931 Press (Christchurch, N.Z.) 5 Oct. 2/6 (advt.) Organdi showers; wide hem.
1933 Auckland Star 2 Nov. 21/5 (advt.) Even at double the price these delightful tea showers would be considered good value.
1967 F. Sargeson Hangover xiv. 108 All was out of sight beneath a large and snowy fabric..—the kind of gossamer thing he could remember his mother had coveted many years ago in a shop window and described as a shower.
2007 Waikato Times (Hamilton, N.Z.) (Nexis) 23 May 7 The elegant birthday cake..sits on a side-table, draped with a tulle tea-shower.
10. Physics. A number of high-energy subatomic particles appearing together; spec. a group produced in the atmosphere by a cosmic-ray particle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > atomic nucleus > radioactivity > ionizing radiation > [noun] > cosmic rays > group of particles
shower1933
1933 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 139 702 Particles of great energy are thrown backwards in a direction nearly opposite to that of the incident shower.
1947 Sci. News 4 125 Sixty-five Geiger-Muller counters have been used to follow the direction of some of the rays and establish the width of one shower.
1977 J. Narlikar Struct. Universe iii. 99 These showers contain particles produced after the cosmic rays have interacted with the atoms of the atmosphere.
1996 New Scientist 20 Jan. 10/1 When a neutrino interacts with a water molecule in the ultrapure ice at the South Pole, it triggers a shower of muons.
2003 Connecting Quarks with Cosmos (U.S. National Res. Council: Div. Engin. & Phys. Sci.) iii. 53 Modern cosmic ray detectors, using sensitive phototubes deployed on a large scale, measure the huge, energetic showers created by very-high-energy primary particles.
11. colloquial (chiefly British, originally Military slang).
a. A worthless or contemptible group or crowd of people. Also occasionally without depreciative connotations: a group or crowd of people.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > a company or body of persons > [noun]
ferec975
flockOE
gingc1175
rout?c1225
companyc1300
fellowshipc1300
covinc1330
eschelec1330
tripc1330
fellowred1340
choira1382
head1381
glub1382
partya1387
peoplec1390
conventc1426
an abominable of monksa1450
body1453
carol1483
band1490
compernagea1500
consorce1512
congregationa1530
corporationa1535
corpse1534
chore1572
society1572
crew1578
string1579
consort1584
troop1584
tribe1609
squadron1617
bunch1622
core1622
lag1624
studa1625
brigadea1649
platoon1711
cohort1719
lot1725
corps1754
loo1764
squad1786
brotherhood1820
companionhood1825
troupe1825
crowd1840
companionship1842
group1845
that ilk1845
set-out1854
layout1869
confraternity1872
show1901
crush1904
we1927
familia1933
shower1936
society > society and the community > social class > the common people > low rank or condition > the lowest class > [noun] > the rabble > a rabble
ginga1275
frapaillec1330
rabblea1398
rascal1415
rafflea1450
mardlec1480
rabblement1543
riff-raff1570
rabble rout?1589
scum1597
skim1606
tumult1629
rebel rout1648
mob1688
drabble1789
attroopment1795
scuff1856
shower1936
1936 Jrnl. Educ. June 370/1 They're a shower of half-sexed, unlicked, undisciplined, wilting pansies.
1942 G. Kersh Nine Lives Bill Nelson ii. 13 I've seen him with some of the lousiest showers of rooks you ever saw in your life.
1958 A. Hackney Private Life xiv. 139 That unit was an absolute shower.
1962 ‘H. Calvin’ System xiii. 176 I bet none of your shower ever even looked at Challen and his mob.
1973 Observer 1 Apr. 13/3 Some of the people who go out with the hounds these days are a shower... We can't have people turning up as if they have been wearing the same pyjamas for a month.
1978 L. Davidson Chelsea Murders i. v. 29 It's a group. What I was thinking..the Manson shower.
2001 Sunday Times (Nexis) 20 May You one of them politicians?.. Bloody shower they are.
b. A worthless or contemptible person.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > inferior person > [noun] > as abused
warlockOE
swinec1175
beastc1225
wolf's-fista1300
avetrolc1300
congeonc1300
dirtc1300
slimec1315
snipec1325
lurdanc1330
misbegetc1330
sorrowa1350
shrew1362
jordan1377
wirlingc1390
frog?a1400
warianglea1400
wretcha1400
horcop14..
turdc1400
callet1415
lotterela1450
paddock?a1475
souter1478
chuff?a1500
langbain?c1500
cockatrice1508
sow1508
spink1508
wilrone1508
rook?a1513
streaker?a1513
dirt-dauber?1518
marmoset1523
babiona1529
poll-hatcheta1529
bear-wolf1542
misbegotten1546
pig1546
excrement1561
mamzer1562
chuff-cat1563
varlet1566
toada1568
mandrake1568
spider1568
rat1571
bull-beef1573
mole-catcher1573
suppository1573
curtal1578
spider-catcher1579
mongrela1585
roita1585
stickdirta1585
dogfish1589
Poor John1589
dog's facec1590
tar-boxa1592
baboon1592
pot-hunter1592
venom1592
porcupine1594
lick-fingers1595
mouldychaps1595
tripe1595
conundrum1596
fat-guts1598
thornback1599
land-rat1600
midriff1600
stinkardc1600
Tartar1600
tumbril1601
lobster1602
pilcher1602
windfucker?1602
stinker1607
hog rubber1611
shad1612
splay-foot1612
tim1612
whit1612
verdugo1616
renegado1622
fish-facea1625
flea-trapa1625
hound's head1633
mulligrub1633
nightmare1633
toad's-guts1634
bitch-baby1638
shagamuffin1642
shit-breech1648
shitabed1653
snite1653
pissabed1672
bastard1675
swab1687
tar-barrel1695
runt1699
fat-face1740
shit-sack1769
vagabond1842
shick-shack1847
soor1848
b1851
stink-pot1854
molie1871
pig-dog1871
schweinhund1871
wind-sucker1880
fucker1893
cocksucker1894
wart1896
so-and-so1897
swine-hound1899
motherfucker1918
S.O.B.1918
twat1922
mong1926
mucker1929
basket1936
cowson1936
zombie1936
meatball1937
shower1943
chickenshit1945
mugger1945
motherferyer1946
hooer1952
morpion1954
mother1955
mother-raper1959
louser1960
effer1961
salaud1962
gunk1964
scunge1967
1943 J. L. Hunt & A. G. Pringle Service Slang 59 A shower. (In the Army.) A detachment or individual whose ways are slack and whose turn-out is slovenly. (In the R.A.F.) ‘What a shower’ is the derisive remark hurled at someone who has just made a blunder.
1949 M. Leigh Cross of Fire iv. 71 You bat-eyed, buttock-brained..shower!
1959 S. Gibbons Pink Front Door ii. 23 Hasn't he [sc. a baby] lain down yet? He is a little shower.
1973 ‘P. Alding’ Field of Fire xv. 123 ‘You're a right shower,’ said Welland.
2009 N. Conway Is there Doctor on Board? 97 Fellow's a total shower.
II. A fall of missiles, an attack, and related senses.
12. A large number of missiles launched or fired at the same time or in rapid succession; a volley, a barrage. Also: a series of pummelling blows. Cf. rain n.1 4a, storm n. 2, hail n.1 3.Probably arising as a transferred use of sense 1a, and in later use often treated as a contextual use of sense 6.
[With early use in alliterative poetry compare use in skaldic poetry, as Old Icelandic naddskúr missile shower, skotskúr shower of shots, málmskúr metal shower, etc.
With scūrum heard in quot. OE2, referring to a sword, compare Old English scūrheard , apparently in sense ‘hardened in the storm of battle’, although alternative explanations have been proposed. Compare further hard shower in quots. c1390, a1513 at sense 15.]
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > [noun] > a stroke or blow > a rain or load of blows
ladec897
showerOE
stormOE
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > stroke with weapon > [noun] > shower of blows
showerOE
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > [noun] > volley of missiles
showerOE
volley1574
OE Cynewulf Elene 117 On þæt fæge folc flana scuras, garas ofer geolorand.., hetend heora grimme [read heorugrimme], hildenædran, þurh fingra geweald forð onsendan.
OE Judith 79 Genam ða wundenlocc scyppendes mægð scearpne mece, scurum heardne.
OE Judith 221 Hie ða..leton forð fleogan flana scuras, hildrenædran, of hornbogan, strælas stedehearde.
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 697 (MED) Eyþer of þis frekes boþe til oþer ȝaf many a schoure; þey..ȝyue strokes sore.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 1299 (MED) Þai without in þe werke wiȝtly defendis, Schot scharply betwene schomes [read schoures] of dartis.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xiii. 43 The Arrowis als so thik thai flaw,..That thai ane hydwis schour can ma.
1508 W. Dunbar Goldyn Targe (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems (1998) I. 190 The schour of arowis rappit on as rayn.
1576 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent 291 They..made it raine suche a shoure of clubbes and coulestaues vpon the Monks Copes, cowles, & Crownes, that [etc.].
1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 188 Many dismall showres of Darts and stones.
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 283 We could hear showers of Bullets batter against the Ships sides.
1736 T. Gray Let. 8 May in Corr. T. Gray & W. Mason (1853) 3 Batter Cadmus' walls with stony showers.
1781 S. Ancell Let. 3 Apr. in Jrnl. Blockade & Siege Gibraltar (1793) 95 The showers of shot from the enemy are beyond credibility.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 115 They were received with a shower of stones.
1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin II. xxxiii. 195 A shower of blows.
1917 J. Martin Diary 5 June in Sapper Martin (2010) 69 The gas shells were now coming over in a continual shower.
1947 W. A. Chalfant Gold, Guns, & Ghost Towns xi. 132 Clifford went down wounded, while Denver was prostrated by a shower of blows.
2006 Total Film Feb. 96/1 A bloke pulls up and sends a shower of bullets into their car.
†13. An assault of good (or bad) fortune; a stroke of misfortune, a hardship or difficulty; an injury. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
OE Homiletic Fragment II 7 Swa þeos woruld fareð, scurum scyndeð ond gesceap dreogeð.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 4515 (MED) I haue..many a scharp schour for þi sake þoled.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) ii. l. 4113 He kept vp a trencheour & kast it at Statin, did him a schamfulle schoure, his nese & his ine he carfe at misauentour.
c1425 (c1395) G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale (Petworth) (1873) l. 1157 He [sc. God]..suffreþ vs as for our exercise Wiþ sharpe shoures [c1405 Hengwrt scourges] of aduersite Wel ofte to be leten in sondry wise.
c1475 Seven Sages (Egerton) (1933) l. 2371 (MED) Yf þou lyue on hyr jangelynge, In the byfalle a foule jncomberynge And also harde and lyther shoure, As fylle Herodes..That loste hys yeen syght.
14.
a. An attack of physical or emotional suffering; a bout of illness; a spasm of pain. Usually with modifying of-phrase, genitive noun, or adjective. Scottish after Middle English. †death's shower, †the shower of death: the throes or pangs of death (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > pain > types of pain > [noun] > sudden pain
stitchc1000
showera1300
shutea1300
gridea1400
gripa1400
shota1400
stounda1400
lancing1470
pang1482
twitch?1510
shooting1528
storm1540
stitching1561
stub1587
twinge1608
gird1614
twang1721
tang1724
shoot1756
darting1758
writhe1789
catch1830
lightning pain1860
twitcher1877
rash1900
a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) l. 175 We sulen hunger hauen & harde sures.
c1390 Roberd of Cisyle (Vernon) (1930) l. 323 (MED) Olofern dyȝede in dolour, He was slaye in hard schour.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. l. 3947 (MED) Lateth ouer go Al ȝour wepyng, þouȝt, and heuynes..Let passe ouer alle þis scharp schowres.
a1450 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Harl. 4866) (1897) l. 3939 In bataile..Hym leuere is to suffre dethes schour, Than cowardly and schamefully flee.
1554 M. Huggarde Path waye to Towre of Perfection sig. B.ivv He that had suffred so many sharpe showers, As I haue done, woulde scant go on his feete.
1565 R. Shacklock tr. J. Osório Epist. to Quene of Eng. f. 33 We must abyde the sharp shoure of death, which neuer is farre from vs, but alway is at our back, and dayly pyncheth somethyng from oure lyfe.
c1570 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. 117 Ȝe, hardest..To him has felt of deith the schouris.
a1605 J. Stewart Poems (1913) 91 He doune descendit in ane bocage greine..And sic scharp schours of sorrow did susteine, That sleip mycht neuir close his veping eine.
1637 S. Rutherford Let. in Joshua Redivivus (1664) 257 It cost Christ and all his followers sharp showers and hot sweats, ere they won to the top of the mountain.
1644 in S. Hibbert Descr. Shetland Islands (1822) 594 Ye, by your devilish art of witchcraft, did cast sickness upon the said Janet, who..fell in an extraordinary and unkindly sickness, and lay eight weeks, taking her shours and pains by fits.
a1783 Gil Brenton xxv. in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1882) I. 68/2 Your lady's in her bigly bowr, An for you she drees mony sharp showr.
1825 Gil Brenton v. in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1882) VI. 385/1 It was a shouir o sad sickness Made me weep sae bitterlie.
1897 Shetland News 28 Aug. Efter rinnin' I got a shooer o' da host.
1933 J. Gray Lowrie 93 Kirsie is hed a odious shooer o' riftin.
b. spec. In plural. Pains experienced during childbirth; labour pains. Scottish after Middle English. Sc. National Dict. (at Shour) records this sense as still in use in Shetland in 1970.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > birth > confinement > [noun] > labour or pains
cothec1000
throea1200
pining throesc1225
travailc1300
showera1350
paina1398
travailinga1400
throng1540
labouring1598
travail pang1652
travail pain1662
labour pains1703
mother-pain1709
mother-pang1710
breeding sicknessa1714
bearing pain1787
troublea1825
birth throe1837
a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 62 (MED) Wymmon, wiþ þi iolyfte þou þench on Godes shoures.
a1450 (a1400) Athelston (1951) l. 636 Harde schourys þenne took her stronge Boþe in bak and eek in wombe.
?1550 J. Bale Apol. agaynste Papyst f. lxvv The woman muste suffre the sharpe shoures of her trauaylynge in delyueraunce of chylde.
a1599 R. Rollock Lect. Hist. Passion (1616) 230 It shall come upon them suddenly, even as the showres and dolor come on a woman who is travailing in birth.
1629 Z. Boyd Balme of Gilead i. 29 The whole creation groneth, travelleth in paine together; as if it were a Woman in her shewers.
a1658 J. Durham Clavis Cantici (1668) v. 289 Pain as of a woman in travel, whose showres are sharp, and pangs vehement till she bring forth.
a1800 Fair Janet & Sweet Will. iii, in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1885) II. iii. 105/1 Till sharp, sharp showers fair Janet took, She grew sick and like to die.
†15. A military assault or attack; (also) an armed conflict, a battle. Also figurative. Obsolete.Very common in Middle English.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed encounter > [noun]
fightc893
coursec1325
stourc1325
acounterc1330
meetingc1330
setc1330
showera1375
brusha1400
semblya1400
hosting1422
poynyec1425
conflictc1440
militancea1460
grate1460
rencounter1471
chaplea1500
flitea1513
concourse?1520
concursion1533
rescounter1543
spurnc1560
rencontrea1572
discourse1573
action1579
combat1582
opposition1598
do1915
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3530 (MED) Þilke þat went with þe lif a-wei fro þat sthoure [read schoure], spakli to þe king of spayne þei sped hem þat time.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 7752 (MED) Þe sarasines him vmbeset, In hard shour to gider þei met.
a1450 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Lamb.) (1887) i. 6820 Þer myghte men se on boþe partys A scharp schour by-twyxten enemys.
c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) l. 732 For he was lyke to endure that day A gret mortall shoure..With Vyce.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. lxxiv The Englisshmen susteyned many harde Showres in Gascoyne & Guyan.
1576 T. Twyne Schoolemaster ii. v. sig. F.iij A Knight that..had geuen many a sharp shoure vnto Antonius, and went away euermore with the better hand.
III. An apparatus for washing under, and related senses.
16.
a. An apparatus for producing a spray of water under which a person may wash his or her body, typically consisting of a showerhead connected to a pipe or hose and mounted to a wall either in a bathtub or in a separate cubicle.Early showers (originally called shower-baths) consisted of a pump which forced water into a basin above the head, this being fitted with a chain or string to release the water; see shower bath n. 1a.needle-shower, power shower: see the first element.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > [noun] > bathing > a bath > shower-bath > apparatus
shower bath1778
shower1820
showerhead1865
shower curtain1904
shower unit1908
stall shower1939
1820 London Med. & Physical Jrnl. June 524 We insert a plate of an ingenious and very convenient apparatus for a shower-bath... The thumb-screw..will allow of any remaining portion of the fluid being drawn off after the operation of the shower.
1854 Water-cure Jrnl. Aug. 31/2 When the showers and douches are used, the strings must be pulled gently, and the curtains carefully closed.
1881 T. H. Cole Hastings & St. Leonards-on-Sea (advt.) 1st and 2nd class private baths, fitted with shower and douche.
1914 Miami Univ. Bull. June 133 Wall showers..are made necessary because of the small amount of room for the baths.
1970 Life 12 June 26 a/1 He had been wheeled under the shower by a nursing assistant and..had been lathered with soap.
2014 M. Miranda Vengeance xv. 242 I turned on the shower after stripping off my dirty clothes... The water ran completely cold.
b. A cubicle containing such apparatus; an area in which a person showers.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > [noun] > bathing > a bath > shower-bath
shower bath1779
needle-bath1887
needle-shower1906
shower1907
1907 Outlook 15 June (advt.) Ballroom, music pavilion, swimming pool, tiled showers.
1948 Billboard 6 Mar. 65/4 (advt.) The DeLuxe Tandem..gives you electric refrigerator—hot water—toilet—spacious shower—plenty of wardrobe space.
1973 J. Wainwright Pride of Pigs 59 The bathroom..was small, but lush..with..a bidet and a corner shower.
2014 J. McLachlan Flirty Dancing vi. 96 As soon as I'm let out of maths I go home and jump in the shower.
c. In plural with the. A room, area, or building containing a number of communal showers, as at a campsite, sports arena, etc.
ΚΠ
1910 Winchester (Indiana) Jrnl. 21 Dec. About 125 persons can be accommodated at one time in the showers and tank.
1918 N.Y. Times 31 Oct. 14/6 It was a wet, mud-bedraggled lot of football players that crowded to the showers after the practice.
1978 V. Ortiz tr. D. Barrios de Chungara Let me Speak 24 The showers are open on alternate days: one day for the women and one day for the men.
2011 T. Ronald Becoming Nancy (2012) vii. 107 You can see him in the showers looking at our willies!
17. An act of washing the body in a shower. Esp. in to have a shower, to take a shower.Compare earlier shower bath n. 2a.In early use sometimes difficult to distinguish from the more general sense of a flow of water from such apparatus (cf. sense 1b).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > [noun] > bathing > an act of bathing
bain1484
dip1598
balneum1652
tub1776
bathe1827
shower1836
bogy1849
1836 Thomsonian Recorder 12 Mar. 184/1 I cured a man of a severe bilious fever with one full course, and a cold water shower immediately after steaming.
1851 Knickerbocker Aug. 178 Must go and take a ‘shower’ in the adjoining bath-room.
1873 ‘M. Twain’ & C. D. Warner Gilded Age xxxiii. 308 He has fell back on hot foot-baths at night and cold showers in the morning.
1930 P. MacDonald Link xi. 218 I had a shower and rammed on some clothes.
1989 B. Capp Heirs of Franklin Woodstock 165 It takes two nurse's aides to get some patients up and give them a shower.
2004 D. Mitchell Cloud Atlas (U.K. ed.) 175 I took a quick shower, slipped into my jim-jams, and cleaned my teeth.

Phrases

P1. colloquial (chiefly Australian and New Zealand). to have come down in the last shower and variants: to be inexperienced, foolish, or gullible. Chiefly in negative contexts, esp. in I didn't come down in the last shower: I cannot be so easily deceived, ‘I wasn't born yesterday.’
ΚΠ
1843 Lowell (Mass.) Offering Nov. 11 One of them inquired..if that fellow, pointing to me, did not rain down in the last shower, for, said he, I should think his brains had been turned topsy-turvy by some dreadful mishap, and had not yet recovered their equilibrium.
1883 Illustr. Sydney News 20 Jan. 11/3 I'm not such a fool as I look, Furnival, nor did I come down in the last shower.
1887 Hawke's Bay (N.Z.) Herald 24 Sept. Mr Ivess and the principal members of his committee—men who in vulgar parlance came down in the last shower of rain—do not know that [etc.].
1951 F. J. Hardy Power without Glory 259 ‘It's no use lying to me, Arty,’ John West said. ‘I didn't come down in the last shower.’
1995 W. Desmond Being & Between 242 Did you come down in the last shower? Do you not know that this is the end of the twentieth century?
2015 Star Observer (Austral.) Sept. 8/3 I didn't come down in the last shower. You've been bringing Johan to Sunday dinner for the last 30 years, do you think I was blind?
P2. colloquial (originally North American) Sport. to send to the showers and variants: to send off or eject (someone) from a match, race, or contest; (in extended use) to reject, overcome, or defeat (a person or thing) decisively.
ΚΠ
1913 Washington Post 15 Aug. 8/6 Gandil was called out... The Nationals' first-sacker protested vigorously and came close to being sent to the showers.
1927 Amer. Speech 2 203/2 If she rejects it [sc. a proposal] she ‘gives him the air’..or, to borrow from sporting parlance, ‘sends him to the showers’.
1945 F. Graham Brooklyn Dodgers 210 Four singles in a row..netted two runs and drove Casey to the showers.
1977 Time 26 Dec. 30/3 Sending a computer to the showers..swells human self-esteem in a wonderfully satisfying way.
1998 Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 26 Oct. 12 Scotland's Colin Calderwood was the man sent to the showers five minutes from the end.
2010 Gazette (Montreal) (Nexis) 13 Apr. b11 Suddenly, the Jays were transformed. They swarmed Red Sox closer Papelbon... After sending him to the showers, the Jays won it on a short sacrifice fly by Fred Lewis.

Compounds

C1.
a. General attributive.
(a) With the sense ‘designed to protect the wearer from rain showers’, as shower boot, shower coat, shower cloak, shower jacket, etc.
ΚΠ
1858 Freeman's Jrnl. (Dublin) 3 July Waterproof garments of every description, Melton waterproof coats for gentlemen, Melton shower cloaks and capes for ladies.
1886 Harper's Bazar 29 May 351/2 Shower coats, to be carried at the sea-side and mountains, where showers come up suddenly.
1914 Quiver Sept. 1060/1 Aunt Susannah..added a shower cloak to cover her morning gown.
1930 Ironwood (Mich.) Daily Globe 24 Oct. 9/8 (advt.) Fleece lined 4-button shower boots in low, medium, cuban and high heels.
1976 Evening Standard 29 Dec. (advt.) Quelrayn showercoats, fleecey lined.
1991 B. Neels Kind of Magic ix. 172 She..got her shower-jacket from the boot and put it on, wishing at the same time that she had put her wellies in as well.
2002 Sunday Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 24 Nov. 16 Young soldiers with olive green shower capes and buckets and spades..shovel up the filth.
(b) In sense 16, as shower door, shower facility, shower mat, etc.See also Compounds 2 and shower bath n.
ΚΠ
1891 A. Ginders in App. Jrnls. House of Representatives N.Z. (2nd Sess. 11th Parl.) IV. H.–61. 2 The new pavilion contains eight baths, also provided with cold showers... Screens are much needed, to prevent the shower-water from splashing over the room.
1923 Valve World Dec. 428/2 (advt.) The straight touch Crane valves so arranged as to be entirely outside the shower area have deep packing glands so that they can be kept absolutely leakproof at the stems.
1977 M. Torres in R. P. Rettig et al. Manny iii. 86/1 The only shower facilities commonly available are communal.
1984 D. M. Millard Daily Living with Handicapped Child v. 74 The child will probably enjoy rinsing himself with a hand-held shower nozzle.
1990 G. Naylor Better than Life 78 He spun the taps and water niagarad on to the pine-scented rubber shower mat.
1996 Green Bk. of Beauty 1996 Catal. 85/3 Exfoliating Shower Cream 125 ml tube.
1997 Home Flair July 85 (advt.) Wickes also offers an excellent range of shower screens and enclosures.
2012 New Yorker 30 Apr. 72/3 It even has a lock inside the shower door.
b. Instrumental, as shower-dampened, shower-swollen, etc.
ΚΠ
1595 M. Drayton Endimion & Phœbe sig. C4v Ioues showre-begotten Son.
1626 G. Sandys tr. Ovid Metamorphosis vii. 136 Men, if Fame say true, Here at the first from shower-raysed mushrumps [L. pluvialibus..fungis] grew.
1627 T. May tr. Lucan Pharsalia (1631) i. 8 The streame showre-swell'd The marches ore.
1660 R. Stapleton tr. Juvenal Mores Hominum i. 7 Deucalion sail'd the showre-swoln Flood.
1880 Fountain of Light 20 Oct. 41/2 An oak tree let fall An acorn small, Soon it sprouted from the shower-moistened clod.
1946 Billboard 17 Aug. 81/4 Frank Winkley's Automobile and Motorcycle Thrill Show pulled..an excellent night attendance,..despite a shower-drenched stand.
2006 W. C. Staub Final Victim iv. 101 He vigorously rubs a towel over his shower-dampened hair.
c. Objective (with verbal nouns and participles), as shower-producing, shower-resisting, shower-taking, etc.
ΚΠ
1743 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Odes II. iii. xxvii. 127 E'er speeds the Shower-boding Crow To Lakes, whose languid Waters cease to flow.
1800 J. Hurdis Favorite Village iii. 122 The cloud immense, whose shower-shedding folds Have all day dwelt upon a deluged world.
1849 T. A. Buckley tr. Æschylus Suppliants in tr. Æschylus Trag. 211 The shower-bearing winds of the fell sea.
1903 Bull. National Assoc. Wool Manufacturers May 97 The fancy for black and white has also been strongly shown in coverts for shower-resisting cloaks and proofing cloths.
1988 D. A. Willson REMF Diary 112 It's so cold here, I believe that I'll confine my shower-taking to every other day instead of daily.
2010 C. D. Ahrens & P. Samson Extreme Weather & Climate ix. 249/1 The moist flow..condenses into towering, shower-producing clouds.
C2.
shower attachment n. a pipe or hose with a showerhead, which may be attached to the tap or taps of a bath to create a (now typically hand-held) shower.
ΚΠ
1880 Titusville (Pa.) Morning Herald 15 July When I say ‘public baths’ I mean more than a bath tub and a shower attachment.
1912 Virginia Med. Semi-monthly 26 July 188/2 During the last four weeks [of pregnancy]..stand in bath tub..and pour clean water over your shoulders, in the absence of a ‘shower attachment’.
1988 Changing Times Nov. 38 Tubs with grab bars and flexible shower attachments that residents can use while sitting in the tub.
2000 S. Vickers Miss Garnet's Angel 184 ‘There's a bathroom—it's a tad poky.’ She opened the door..to show a truncated bath with a shower attachment.
shower block n. a building or other structure (permanent or temporary) containing a number of public showers, as often found at a school, campsite, sports arena, etc.
ΚΠ
1912 W. P. Norris Rep. Quarantine 25 in Rec. & Papers Parl. Austral. III The buildings of the station comprise..the disinfection block, where four large steam chambers are installed, also series of baths and shower blocks.
1974 Times 23 Feb. 11/3 [Limefitt Park] provides campers and caravan holidaymakers with such amenities as shower blocks.
2015 S. Gardner Dead I Know vii. 30 I collected..my toiletries bag and made my way to the shower block.
shower bouquet n. a large (esp. bridal) bouquet from which many small bouquets hang by ribbons of various lengths, creating a cascading effect.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > floriculture and flower arranging > [noun] > flower arrangement > bouquet
bobc1400
posya1500
poesy1565
bough-pot1585
ramilletec1620
bouquet1717
tisty-tosty1825
booky1842
bokay1847
shower bouquet1891
porte-bouquet1900
1891 Manch. Guardian 5 Mar. 5/6 The Shower bouquet has a perfect rain of blooms intermixed with loops of ribbon.
1977 Cleethorpes News 6 May 15/6 She carried a shower bouquet of lily of the valley, pink carnations and freesia.
1997 Whitby Gaz. 25 Oct. 10/1 The bride..carried a shower bouquet of deep red roses, carnations and ivy.
showerbox n. originally U.S.; now chiefly New Zealand = shower cubicle n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > [noun] > bathing > place for bathing > shower-room or cubicle
showerbox1840
shower room1871
shower stall1875
shower cubicle1917
1840 Boston Med. & Surg. Jrnl. 22 Jan. 383 Should any one evince an unruly spirit.., he is either confined to his own room, or perhaps conducted to the shower box, where water is admitted upon him from a cistern above, in such copious streams as may cool his blood down.
1851 I. H. Hunt Astounding Disclosures! iii. 7 I heard a scream..; I supposed he had been put into the shower box and showered.
1965 F. Sargeson Mem. Peon vii. 201 Beyond that a shower-box of such microscopic dimensions.
2012 Southland (N.Z.) Times (Nexis) 3 Mar. 1 The en suite is also a great haven for Mum and Dad with corner showerbox, generous vanity and toilet with soft closing lid.
shower cap n. a plastic or rubber cap worn to keep one's hair dry while showering or bathing.
ΚΠ
1914 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 16 Apr. 15/4 (advt.) Bath caps... Shower cap... 25c.
1972 R. K. Smith Ransom iii. 125 She..stepped into the shower, remembering only at the last minute to slip on a shower cap.
2012 A. Moore Lighthouse i. 16 He goes around collecting up the complimentary items—..toiletry miniatures, a shower cap, the plastic cup.
shower cloud n. a cloud which brings a rain shower; esp. a cumulonimbus cloud.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cloud > [noun] > a cloud > nimbus > cumulo-nimbus
shower cloud1823
cumulo-nimbus1887
1751 W. Douglass Summary First Planting Brit. Settlem. N.-Amer. II. No. 14. 218 The Spring Flights 1751 were very large, like Thunder Shower Clouds, but soon over.]
1823 London Lit. Gaz. 5 Apr. 219/3 Now comes a shower-cloud o'er the sky, Then all again sunshine.
1880 W. C. Ley in Nature 1 Jan. 210/2 If Nimbus is to be retained, it might be subdivided into its two essentially distinct varieties, the massive local shower-cloud, and the extensive bank of composite rain-cloud; and for these varieties the titles cumulo-nimbus and strato-nimbus..might come into use.
1910 A. W. Clayden in Encycl. Brit. VI. 559/1 Cumulo-nimbus (Cu.-N.), The Thunder-cloud; Shower-cloud—Heavy masses of clouds, rising in the form of mountains, turrets, or anvils.
2006 A. Bowen & J. Pallister Understanding GCSE Geogr. (ed. 3) vi. 91/2 Cold air is being warmed up by its journey over the sea, encouraging air to rise and to form the cumulo-nimbus shower clouds shown.
shower cubicle n. a cubicle containing a shower; spec. (a) one of a number of compartments containing showers in a communal changing room, shower block, etc.; (b) an enclosure for a shower in a bathroom, typically with a raised base and glass or plastic doors.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > [noun] > bathing > place for bathing > shower-room or cubicle
showerbox1840
shower room1871
shower stall1875
shower cubicle1917
1917 Plumbers Trade Jrnl. 15 Jan. 67/3 Of course, the shower cubicle will be tiled.
1966 P. O'Donnell Sabre-tooth iii. 56 She..padded into the big shower-cubicle.
1992 D. T. Roberts in R. Marks & G. Plewig Environmental Threat to Skin lxv. 396/2 Washing floors in changing rooms and shower cubicles by hosing them down is effective.
2006 Place in Sun May 77/2 The bathroom is fitted with a..low-level WC, pedestal wash hand basin, panelled bath and shower cubicle.
shower curtain n. a waterproof curtain separating a shower from the rest of the room.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > covers or hangings > [noun] > hangings > curtain > other curtains
side curtain1480
shower curtain1904
Marie Antoinette1950
blackout1980
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > [noun] > bathing > a bath > shower-bath > apparatus
shower bath1778
shower1820
showerhead1865
shower curtain1904
shower unit1908
stall shower1939
1904 Metal Worker, Plumber & Steam Fitter 28 May 52/2 A special enameled iron receptor for shower bath use, equipped with shower curtain, is a fixture to which they call special attention.
1974 R. Hawkey & R. Bingham Wild Card xviii. 145 She pulled aside the shower curtains and leaned out.
2003 Times (Nexis) 1 Jan. (Times2 section) 4 Men need to know that we do not like used towels, hair in the plughole, shower curtains with limescale.
shower gel n. a gel used for cleaning oneself in the shower.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing agents > [noun] > soap > form of soap
soft soap?a1425
washing-ball1538
ball1575
tablet1582
musk ball1589
liquid soap1600
soap-ball1601
wash-ball1601
savonette1702
brick soap1753
bar-soap1824
bar1834
sand-ball1846
soap powder1865
leaf1882
soap leaf1909
soap flakes1926
shower gel1970
1969 Muscatine (Iowa) Jrnl. 16 Oct. 5 (advt.) Galore Bath and Shower Gel cleanses, deodorizes, relaxes, refreshes without soap.]
1970 Amarillo (Texas) Globe-Times 13 Feb. 2 (advt.) Included are the cologne, after shave, after shower splash, and shower gel.
2014 L. O'Neill Only ever Yours xxix. 327 Drizzling the shower gel into her hands, she lathers up and soaps every inch of her perfect body.
showerhead n. a perforated nozzle or cap from which the water sprays out in a shower.In quot. 1865: a nozzle on a hose used to apply water to the eye as a medicinal treatment.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > [noun] > bathing > a bath > shower-bath > apparatus
shower bath1778
shower1820
showerhead1865
shower curtain1904
shower unit1908
stall shower1939
1865 Eclectic Med. Jrnl. Sept. 405 When the water gushes from the shower-head or sprinkler, the closed eye must be placed before the jet.
1868 Manch. Guardian 5 Dec. 7/7 (advt.) Bath: large size, good condition, with shower head: cheap.
1978 R. Nixon Mem. 369 The shower in the President's private bathroom in the Residence..consisted of half a dozen different jets and showerheads.
2005 A. Smith Accidental 146 She turned on the taps. Water came out of the showerhead.
shower party n. chiefly North American a party to which guests bring gifts, esp. for a bride-to-be or expectant mother; cf. sense 4b.
ΚΠ
1897 Commerc. Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee) 24 Jan. 5/4 One of the most touching donations in the shower party at the Home for Aged Women last week was [etc.].
1904 Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press 22 June 4 The ‘shower parties’ that through mistaken hospitality the wedded couple are forced to attend.
2013 Charleston (W. Va.) Gaz. (Nexis) 28 Apr. 6 f Fox and her longtime staff have catered many weddings, family reunions, anniversary and shower parties.
shower room n. a room containing a shower or showers; spec. a room in a house, hotel, etc., containing a shower (but not a bath), and often also a toilet and washbasin.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > [noun] > bathing > place for bathing > shower-room or cubicle
showerbox1840
shower room1871
shower stall1875
shower cubicle1917
1871 Superior Court N.Y.: Gessner vs. Guttman 27 The waste pipe to be conveyed to the shower rooms.
1939 ‘E. Queen’ Mind Over Matter in Blue Bk. Oct. 21/2 The crowd [in the dressing room] was so dense it overflowed into the adjoining shower-room.
1965 F. Sargeson Mem. Peon iv. 90 He..was washing his hands at a basin in the far corner of the shower-room.
1975 W. Craig Strasbourg Legacy (1976) i. 8 Hoess, the commandant at Auschwitz,..refused to take credit for killing three million inmates. He had been on leave of absence while a portion of them died in the shower rooms.
2002 P. Long Guide to Rural Wales vi. 196 The house has..twin or double accommodation with en suite shower rooms.
shower shoe n. chiefly North American either of a pair of shoes (typically rubber or plastic sandals) designed to be worn while showering, esp. in communal showers to protect one's feet from infection.
ΚΠ
1930 Salt Lake Tribune 17 Dec. 3/6 (advt.) The new russet brown shower shoes with invisible fastener 3.45.
1939 Williamsburg (Iowa) Jrnl.-Tribune 9 Nov. 6/1 The girls..have decided on wearing shower shoes in the locker rooms for their own protection.
1978 Sat. Evening Post July 105/1 (advt.) Swim sneaks. All-rubber bathing and shower shoes. Sure-footed protection on rocks, decks, or shower floors.
2012 S. Campbell Scandals xi. 97 I had brought shower shoes, but after seeing the globs of hair in the cruddy shower, I decided to pass until I got home.
shower stall n. chiefly U.S. = shower cubicle n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > [noun] > bathing > place for bathing > shower-room or cubicle
showerbox1840
shower room1871
shower stall1875
shower cubicle1917
1875 Metal Worker 18 Dec. 9/2 The third [chamber]..contained six shower stalls, separated from one another by simple boards.
1975 J. F. Burke Death Trick (1976) ii. 12 He took a quick look in the bathroom, noted that the shower stall was wet.
2001 Toronto Star 13 Jan. m11/5 (advt.) The grandest [ensuite] is the master bedroom's, with roman tub.., a separate custom-look shower stall and his and hers vanities.
shower tray n. a shallow, typically square base for a shower compartment or cubicle, with raised edges.
ΚΠ
1953 Oshkosh (Wisconsin) Daily Northwestern 4 June 34/4 The production of thousands of concrete shower trays for various branches of the armed forces.
1982 DIY Trade Mar. 4/4 Small shower trays are common fittings in caravans.
2009 ‘R. Keeland’ tr. S. Larsson Girl who kicked Hornets' Nest xxiii. 450 He spent an hour sweeping and dusting, scouring the shower tray..and changing the bedclothes.
shower tree n. chiefly U.S. any tree of the genus Cassia, the members of which have pendulous racemes of flowers (see cassia n.1 4a); cf. earlier golden shower n. 4.
ΚΠ
1882 Celebration Golden Wedding Dr. & Mrs. Lowell Smith 4 The happy couple stood under a green arch..from which depended a marriage bell covered with the flowers of the ‘Golden Shower’ tree.]
1934 Torreya 34 35 Among the most abundant and conspicuous of the flowering trees are the purple jacaranda, the several varieties of shower trees (Cassias) with pink, pink and white, or yellow flowers; [etc.].
1979 Trop. Legumes: Resources for Future (National Acad. Sci.–National Res. Council (U.S.)) 246 Sometimes known as shower trees, they have striking, fragrant flowers that hang in graceful sprays.
2001 C. R. Elevitch Trad. Trees Pacific Islands 369/2 Shower trees have clusters of cream, pink, orange, yellow, or red flowers resembling in shape and size large bunches of grapes.
shower unit n. (a) a room containing a shower or showers; (b) an enclosure for a shower in a bathroom, typically with a raised base and glass or plastic doors; = shower cubicle n. (b); (c) the hose, pump, heating element, etc., forming the main apparatus of a shower.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > [noun] > bathing > a bath > shower-bath > apparatus
shower bath1778
shower1820
showerhead1865
shower curtain1904
shower unit1908
stall shower1939
1908 Brickbuilder Apr. 78/2 This bath is the only one in the country..where the shower units exceed the pool units.
1950 Times 16 Mar. 12/5 (advt.) Luxury half-tiled bath room, glass shower unit.
1962 Financial Times 10 Mar. 10/4 The shower unit itself can be fixed either at head height or..at shoulder height.
1993 Collins Compl. DIY Man. (new ed.) vii. 307/2 A powerful appliance such as a cooker or shower unit must have its own radial circuit.
2013 A. Immel in G. K. Piehler Encycl. Mil. Sci. I. 9/2 The shower unit was created to provide hot water showers in the field, utilizing a water heater, pump, and shower stalls.
2015 Belfast Tel. (Nexis) 27 Mar. There is a large walk-in shower unit, plus a recessed bath and low flush WC.

Derivatives

ˈshower-like adv. and adj.
ΚΠ
1827 London Lit. Gaz. 20 Oct. 677/1 O the joys that come down shower-like Of beauty, truth, and liberty.
1836 E. C. Jones Student of Padua v. 107 Blessings on you! may they fall In shower-like plenteousness upon your heart!
1893 Times 8 May 10/5 Weather dull and shower like.
1919 Louisiana Planter & Sugar Manufacturer 1 Feb. 77/1 The descending showerlike current of raw cane juices from the liming tank.
1938 D. T. Suzuki Zen Buddhism & Infl. Japanese Culture ii. i. 210 The falling leaves striking shower-like against the roof.
2014 Jrnl. N.Z. Lit. 33 98 The spectator enters a room with images round the walls and a transparent shower-like structure in the centre.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

showern.2

Brit. /ˈʃəʊə/, U.S. /ˈʃoʊ(ə)r/
Forms: Old English sceawre (rare), Old English sceawera (perhaps transmission error), Old English sceware (Northumbrian), Old English–early Middle English sceawere, Middle English scawere, Middle English scewre, Middle English schawere, Middle English scheauware, Middle English scheawere, Middle English schewar, Middle English schewer, Middle English schewere, Middle English schewir, Middle English schoer, Middle English schowre, Middle English shawer, Middle English sheawere, Middle English shewere, Middle English sseawere (south-eastern), Middle English ssewere (south-eastern), Middle English– shewer, 1500s– shower; also Scottish pre-1700 schawar, pre-1700 schaware, pre-1700 scheware.
Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.
Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to Old High German scouwāri observer, spectator, watchman (Middle High German schouwære , schower (German Schauer ) < the Germanic base of show v. + the Germanic base of -er suffix1.With the semantic and formal development compare show v. and see discussion at that entry.
†1.
a. A person who looks out or observes; an observer; a scout; a watchman; (also) a person who makes an inspection or examination of something. Obsolete.In quot. OE1 in the Old English compound lēas-scēawere spy, lit. ‘deceitful observer’ (compare lease adj.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > one who sees > [noun] > beholder or spectator
showerOE
beholderc1374
lookera1382
espiouressc1430
considererc1449
overseerc1450
regarder1525
surveyor1558
viewer1565
spectatora1586
regardant1590
aspector1603
supervisor1610
eyer1611
spectatrix1611
spectatress1632
speculator1647
contemplator1658
attender1665
espier1860
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > one who sees > [noun] > watcher or look-out
showerOE
tootera1382
waiter1382
night watcha1400
scout-watcha1400
looker-out1562
night-watcher1569
watcher1572
scout1585
bishop1592
speculator1607
lookout1662
speculatory1775
lookout man1787
stagger1859
dog1870
eye1874
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > one who sees > [noun] > spy or scout
showerOE
spierc1275
aspy1297
overlookerc1484
spial1548
scout1585
speculationa1616
spion1615
spotter1867
spot1893
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > investigation, inspection > secret observation, spying > [noun] > a secret observer, spy
showerOE
spya1325
exploratorc1429
watch1484
inquisitor1580
scout1585
fly1622
otacust1632
evidence1691
lurcher1706
plant1812
OE Beowulf (2008) 253 Ær ge fyr heonan leassceaweras on land Dena furþur feran.
OE Ælfric Homily: De Duodecim Abusivis (Corpus Cambr. 178) in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 303 Episcopus is grecisc nama þæt is on leden speculator & on englisc sceawere [a1225 Lamb. scawere].
OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Deut. (Claud.) i. 22 Vton sendan sceaweras, ðæt sceawion ðæt land & cyðan us on hwylcne weg we faran sceolon.
OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) iii. iii. 162 Þæt we willað þæt se sceawre wite mid fullum gerade þe þis gewrit aspyrað þæt [etc.].
a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 103 (MED) Þærupen weren ðe sceaweres ðe lokeden ðe hali burh, and warneden fram alle here unwines.
b. Apparently: a municipal overseer. Cf. jurat n.1 2. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
?c1450 (?c1402) Statutes Marsh Pevensey in Sussex Archaeol. Coll. (1866) 18 44 By the condicent of the Lordes of the Townes, the Bayly, and the xij Juratis, otherwise named Shawers, and of the Comenes of the saide Mershe.
†2. A mirror. Also figurative. Obsolete.In quot. 1452-3 perhaps referring to a hand mirror or piece of polished plate.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > optical instruments > mirror > [noun]
sunshineeOE
showerOE
glass13..
mirrorc1330
spectaclec1430
mirror glass1440
beryl-glass1540
reflecting glass?a1560
reflective1720
show-glass1810
shiner1819
OE Ælfric Homily: Sermo ad Populum (Corpus Cambr. 188) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1967) I. 445 Nu we menn geseoð swilce þurh sceawere, and on rædelse.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 29 Hie bihalt hire sheawere and cumeð hire shadewe þaronne.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 74 Ȝe schulen as ischawere iseon vre lauedi wið alle hire meidnes.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 84 (MED) Zuych uolc byeþ ase is þet child þet loueþ more ane sseawere þanne ane kingdom.
c1400 Simonie (Peterhouse) (1991) 93 He putteþ in hys pawtener a kerchyf and a comb, A shewere and a coyf to bynd with hys lokes.
1452–3 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1865) III. 131 (MED) j parvæ peciæ arg. vocatæ shewer.
a1525 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Trin. Dublin) (1896) 116 (MED) That same boke..was hym ther-aftyr as shewer [a1500 Rawl. merrowre; L. speculum] of al hys dedys.
3.
a. A person who shows, points out, demonstrates, or exhibits something; (in recent use also) spec. a person who exhibits an animal at a show.In early use also: a person who expounds or interprets something, a teacher, a guide (also figurative).
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > [noun] > one who or that which manifests
openerOE
showerc1400
manifesterc1429
representor1553
outsettera1578
manifestator1609
displayer1611
representer1635
manifesteress1662
developer1772
exhibitant1846
elicitor1848
society > communication > manifestation > showing to the sight > [noun] > one who shows
showerc1400
proposer1566
show-woman1794
monstrator1852
exposer?1870
model1904
society > communication > indication > pointing out > [noun] > one who or that which
showerc1400
hand1563
fescue1648
signpost1658
fingerpost1738
indicator1819
marker1832
finger pointer1843
c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) l. 4786 Ne heldeþ me þerof no fynder—Her bokes ben my shewer.
?a1425 tr. Catherine of Siena Orcherd of Syon (Harl.) (1966) 308 (MED) Þei weren scheweris and defenderis of þe feiþ for her neiȝboris.
c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 60 (MED) Noyþer þe deposing of þe witnes, nor þe [s]entens ȝeuing of þe juge..makiþ not man synful ne worþi to be dead, syn þei are but schewars and witnessars.
a1500 (?a1390) J. Mirk Festial (Gough) (1905) 187 God toke hom to hym yn ensampull to al oþer, and made hom as a schoer to al oþer synfull.
1511–12 Act 3 Henry VIII c. 10 in Statutes of Realm (1963) III. 31 The oder halfe to the taker fynder or shewer of the same.
1586 J. Melvill in Calderwood's Hist. Kirk Scotl. (1843) IV. 522 The rebooker and shower thee of thy vice.
1620 T. Matthew tr. St. John of Avila Audi Filia xxi. 102 Our mercifull Lord, who is the true shewer of mercies.
1680 H. More Apocalypsis Apocalypseos 333 It is the Angel that is the shower of the whole scene of this vision.
1701 D. Hamilton Inward Testimony Spirit Christ 402 The Spirit of Christ acting..under the character of a shewer of things to come in another World.
1725 N. Bailey tr. Erasmus Colloq. 355 We went down into a Vault..; to that there belong two Shewers of Relicks. The first thing they shew you, is the Skull of the Martyr.
1810 C. Lamb Let. 9 Aug. in Lett. C. & M. A. Lamb (1978) III. 54 Perhaps it [sc. a group of pictures] is shown separately to put another fee into the shower's pocket.
1859 A. K. H. Boyd Recreat. Country Parson ii. 61 In compassion for human weakness, the Great Director and Shower of events practises the Art of Putting Things.
1868 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 2nd Ser. 4 ii. 283 The breeders of Herefords have always been keen showers.
1899 Daily News 11 Apr. 6/3 Deceased..was for some time a shower in the State apartments [at Windsor Castle].
1911 A. F. Hochwalt Pointer & Setter in Amer. i. xx. 218 A number of these dogs came into the hands of various breeders and showers, who exhibited these and their progeny with great success.
1992 K. A. Appiah In my Father's House iii. 67 If Achebe sometimes tells us too much..he is a skillful shower too.
2007 K. Stafford Welfare of Dogs iii. 57 Breeders and showers try to produce a dog as close to the ideal as possible.
b. Law. An officer (usually one of two) appointed by a court to accompany the jurors or viewers when they travel to view a property to which a particular case relates. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > one who administers justice > an officer of the court > [noun] > officer accompanying jurors or viewers to property
shower1725
1725 Readings upon Statute Law IV. 89 (margin) Two Shewers. [Main text Jurors..shall have the Matters controverted shewn to them by two Persons in the Writs nam'd and appointed by the Court.]
1745 Lilly's Pract. Reg. II. Suppl. 46 Upon the View granted one of the Shewers for the Plaintiff gave Evidence to such of the Jurors as were upon the View.
1773 A. Wedderburn Argument 31 The conduct of the shewers for Lord Pomfret, on the view, was extremely unfair.
1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scotl. at Viewer The premises are pointed out to them by two persons, named by the Court, usually on the joint suggestion of the parties, and technically called shewers.
1864 Irish Jurist 16 250/2 Whitelaw, one of the showers, did not confine himself to his duties as shower, but called to the jury to come back and view a flag.
1887 Consolidated Laws Brit. Honduras v. ix. 35 The jury..shall make the view under charge of the proper officer or other person to be appointed, and if necessary of a shewer or shewers.
1940 Maritime Provinces Rep. XIV. 67 The Judicature Act [of New Brunswick] makes no mention of the number of shewers requested.
1987 I. D. MacPhail Evidence vi. xxv. §27 There should be no discussions at the view and the explanation should be made by the showers alone.
†4. A thing which shows or give an indication of something; an indicator; an indicative symptom of a disease. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > [noun] > an indication or sign
tokeningc888
fingereOE
senyeOE
markOE
showing?c1225
blossomc1230
signa1325
signifyingc1384
evidencea1393
notea1398
forbysena1400
kenninga1400
knowinga1400
showerc1400
unningc1400
signala1413
signification?a1425
demonstrancec1425
cenyc1440
likelinessc1450
ensign1474
signifure?a1475
outshowinga1500
significativea1500
witter1513
precedent1518
intimation1531
signifier1532
meith1533
monument1536
indicion?1541
likelihood1541
significator1554
manifest1561
show1561
evidency1570
token-teller1574
betokener1587
calendar1590
instance1590
testificate1590
significant1598
crisis1606
index1607
impression1613
denotementa1616
story1620
remark1624
indicium1625
denotation1633
indice1636
signum1643
indiction1653
trace1656
demonstrator1657
indication1660
notationa1661
significatory1660
indicator1666
betrayer1678
demonstration1684
smell1691
wittering1781
notaa1790
blazonry1850
sign vehicle1909
marker1919
rumble1927
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > symptom > [noun]
entacha1375
symptom1398
accidenta1400
showerc1400
prognostic?a1425
grudgingc1440
prognosticationc1475
grudge1562
symptomates1583
grutchinga1637
annotation1644
pathognomic1683
pathognomonic1704
prognosis1706
modality1911
c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xv. l. 96 Hit [sc. the star] shon to þe shepehurdes a shewere [B text c1450 Rawl. schewer] of blisse.
1532 T. More Confut. Tyndales Answere i. p. li He meaneth that..the sacrament..is no cause therof..nor instrument therin, but onely a bare sygnyfyer and a shewer thereof.
1561 R. Eden tr. M. Cortés Arte Nauigation iii. xi. f. lxxviii In the ioynte of the two halfe cyrcles..muste be a poynte (called the Index or shewer) whiche shall shewe..the degrees that the pole is raysed aboue the Horizon.
1572 J. Jones Bathes of Bathes Ayde Ep. Ded. 3 Withall the signes shewers of the state of the sicke and whole.
1634 T. Johnson tr. A. Paré Chirurg. Wks. x. xiv. 358 The pulse is, in Galens opinion, the certainest shewer of the strength.
1696 G. Harvey Treat. Small-pox & Measles (new ed.) xvi. 103 The Disease, cause of the Disease, or symptom, is called the Indicant, that is, Manifestant, or Shewer.
5. With preceding modifying adjective. An animal that performs well or badly, or makes a good or bad display of its qualities, when exhibited or entered in a show (show n.1 18a(a)). Cf. show v. 4d, show v. 33c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > domestic animal > [noun] > livestock > stock or breed > animals kept for breeding > animal bred for display
shower1885
1885 Dundee Courier & Argus 26 Aug. He would give a medal next year for the best shower.
1890 Fanciers' Jrnl. 31 Sept. 174/1 Money Musk, the winning bitch, is a nice tri-color, not quite flat enough in skull, a bit open and soft in coat; rather a bad shower.
1937 Aiken (S. Carolina) Standard & Rev. 7 Apr. 8/7 This is an exceptionally nice seven months puppy, but at times an indifferent shower.
2013 pt9budgerigars.weebly.com 6 Sept. (blog, accessed 20 Apr. 2016) The first bird was a cinnamon light green and was not the best shower but when he did, he made the choice easy.

Compounds

With adverbs, forming nouns corresponding to phrasal verbs at show v.
ΚΠ
1825 W. Cobbett Rural Rides in Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 398 Mr. Buxton figured here, also Lord Suffield, who appear to have been the two principal actors, or showers-off.
1834 Western Monthly Mag. Mar. 137 She is regarded as a creature of display—a shower-off of intellectual wares.
1848 Puppet Show 3 75/2 Mr. D'Israeli—the cynic, the sneerer, the shower up of Rigby, the foe of Peel, the biter of radicals.
1898 Idler Oct. 377 A man I know, Robinson, who's a livery-stable keeper, has given me a post as shower-off of horses.
1921 W. H. Mayson Violin-making (ed. 3) xiii. 76 Your varnish is a terrible shower-up of bad work.
a1953 D. Thomas Quite Early One Morning (1968) i. 45 He's five foot six and a half. Thick blubber lips..speaks rather fancy; truculent; plausible; a bit of a shower-off.
1975 S. Heaney in Times Lit. Suppl. 21 Mar. 306/2 The various plays..initiated by, directed by and starring Keeney, a shower-off and a letter-down.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

showerv.

Brit. /ˈʃaʊə/, U.S. /ˈʃaʊ(ə)r/
Forms: see shower n.1
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: shower n.1
Etymology: < shower n.1
1.
a. intransitive. Of something immaterial: to be bestowed abundantly or liberally; to come in large or overwhelming quantities. Frequently with down, on, upon.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > falling > fall [verb (intransitive)] > drop or fall vertically > (as) from the sky > copiously > specifically of immaterial things
showerc1450
c1450 (c1405) Mum & Sothsegger (BL Add. 41666) (1936) l. 760 (MED) The grucching of grete þat shuld vs gouuerne Han y-shourid sharpely þorough suffrance of clercz.
1590 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Canticle in Triumph of Faith (1592) 1 Heauens most righteous wrath Vpon the cruell campe of Leaguers showered hath.
1596 A. Copley Fig for Fortune 77 Feeling now withall Gods heauie furies Showre down vpon her like a floud of raine.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 v. i. 47 It rainde downe fortune showring on your head. View more context for this quotation
1632 R. Brome Northern Lasse v. ii. K 3 Sir, all the accumulations of honour showre downe vpon you.
1652 J. Wright tr. J.-P. Camus Nature's Paradox xii. 342 So many Praises and Benedictions showring down upon his head.
1732 G. Berkeley Serm. to Soc. Propagation Gospel in Wks. (1871) III. 249 The Divine grace will no longer shower down on our obdurate hearts.
1751 Merlinus Liberatus sig. B6v Surely deep Vengeance now comes showering down.
1821 J. W. Croker Diary 4 Aug. in Croker Papers (1885) I. 199 Visits and invitations shower upon one.
1862 H. L. Williams tr. V. Hugo Hunchback of Notre-Dame 105/1 A thousand other insults showered down.
1912 Standard 20 Sept. 7/6 Thousands of congratulatory messages have showered upon the happy pair from all parts of the world.
2010 C. Rees Fool's Girl i. 108 He nodded his thanks at the praise showering down on him.
b.
(a) transitive. To bestow (gifts, praise, thanks, etc.) abundantly or liberally. Also (less commonly): to heap (something unwanted or unpleasant, as anger, insults, etc.) on someone. Also occasionally intransitive. Frequently with on or upon.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > giving > liberal giving > give liberally [verb (transitive)]
enlargissec1430
transfude?a1475
enlargea1492
heap1574
showerc1595
profuse1611
enumerate1717
prodigalize1836
the mind > possession > giving > liberal giving > be liberal [verb (intransitive)]
alargea1425
to make lavish1483
to enlarge the hand1651
shower1667
to push the boat out1920
c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme cxxxiv. 18 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 227 All blessings you accompany, From him in plenty showered.
1599 T. Nashe Lenten Stuffe 13 Our virgin rectoresse [sc. Queen Elizabeth]..hath shoured downe her bounty vpon them.
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII i. iv. 64 I showre a welcome on yee: welcome all. View more context for this quotation
1646 J. Vicars Burning-bush not Consumed sig. A3 John Vicars..ever prayes..for a most plentiful Repay of enlarged Gracious Honour..to be showred downe into the Bosomes of Them.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost v. 640 Th' all bounteous King, who showrd With copious hand. View more context for this quotation
1741 I. Watts Improvem. Mind i. v. 91 Let not little Criticks..shower down their ill Nature upon him.
1773 Monthly Rev. Jan. 49 The Author..has benevolently showered down on the gaping multitude of booksellers and book-readers, the results of his speculations.
1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece V. xl. 124 The royal bounty was largely showered upon him.
1889 E. L. Godkin in R. Ogden Life & Lett. E. L. Godkin (1907) II. 156 They all showered invitations upon me which, alas! I cannot accept.
1946 Mich. Alumnus Q. Rev. 27 July 303/1 I kept showering blessings and thanks on him.
1965 L. J. Edinger Kurt Schumacher ii. 9 Gertrud and the three girls showered affection on the baby.
2015 Sunday Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 29 Mar. 20 Maybe showering endless praise on a young man..is not the best way to nurture budding talent.
(b) transitive. With the recipient as object, and with specifying the thing bestowed.
ΚΠ
1836 S. Eells Addr. Alpha Delta Phi Soc. Miami Univ.: Study of Classics 4 Is it by showering him with honors, that a grateful public manifests its gratitude?
1873 London Q. Rev. Jan. 399 The wayward damsel showers him with abusive terms.
1880 L. Wallace Ben-Hur vii. iii. 458 She plied Ben-Hur with countless coquetries of speech and manner, showering him with smiles.
1932 Z. N. Hurston Let. 14 Jan. in Life in Lett. (2002) 241 I am showered with letters and phone calls and my nerves are twanging.
1956 O. Kicks Murder with Orchids ii. 54 If I had a husband I'd shower him with kindness.
1986 D. Moore Off-Beat (1987) ii. 57 The monarchs all showered him with gold watches, silver snuff-boxes and all manner of precious gifts.
2012 Independent 12 Mar. 44/2 During his long life he was showered with awards.
2.
a. intransitive. Of a cloud, the skies, etc.: to send or pour down rain or other precipitation in showers. Also with down.
ΚΠ
1567 G. Turberville tr. G. B. Spagnoli Eglogs ix. f. 92v The moisture quite is gone, No cloud doth shoure, nor Tyber glides the gasping fieldes vppon.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. viii. sig. Vv The clowdes..Fiercely then begin to showre.
1660 J. Perrot Follower of Lamb 3 Both the Sun shined, and the Heavens showred upon the just and the unjust.
1686 J. Goad Astro-meteorologica i. xv. 88/2 Single cloud showring in the NW.
1727 tr. Plutarch Lives IV. 281 As the Pile shrunk down, and the Fire was upon expiring, the Clouds showered down, and continued raining 'till Night.
1868 G. J. Symons Brit. Rainfall 1867 69 I often see the rain-cloud showering on the S. when I have no rain.
1952 Times 14 Aug. 4/7 A cloud did shower at exactly the theoretical 20 minutes after seeding.
1995 Orange County (Calif.) Reg. 12 Mar. 1/1 The skies changed by Saturday afternoon, as rain clouds showered here and there.
b. intransitive. With non-referential it as subject, in it showers, it is showering, etc.: rain is falling in a shower; a rain shower is occurring. Also occasionally (of rain): to fall in a shower.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > precipitation or atmospheric moisture > rain > rain falls [verb (intransitive)] > rain in showers
beshowera1350
shower1572
1572 J. Symon Pleasant Posie (single sheet) She may be to vs a bower, To kepe vs alway when it doth showre.
1580 T. Tusser Fiue Hundred Pointes Good Husbandrie (new ed.) f. 13v If great she [sc. the moon] appereth, it showreth out, if small she appereth, it signifieth drout.
1608 G. Wilkins Painfull Adventures Pericles iv. sig. C3 There were no windes blustering, no surges rising, no raines showring.
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant ii. 193 It continued showring by intervals, with great Thunder-Claps, till half an hour after six.
1796 J. Ebers New & Compl. Dict. German & Eng. Lang. II. 1026/1 Es regnet gewaltig, it rains apace, it showers, it pours down.
1831 A. Bigelow Trav. Malta & Sicily xiii. 370 Last night it blew in violent gusts, and occasionally it showered copiously.
1891 R. L. Stevenson Let. 19 May in Vailima Lett. (1895) 75 It showered all afternoon and poured heavy and loud all night.
1921 Boys' Life July 10/2 It began to shower, and of course they didn't enjoy being without shelter.
1983 I. Watson Bk. of River (1984) i. 49 Rain showered down on our way to the glassworks.
2008 Prince Rupert (Brit. Columbia) Daily News (Nexis) 11 July (Sports section) 6 Racers and their families looked for other forms of entertainment and distractions, as it showered all day.
c. transitive. Of a cloud, the skies, God, etc.: to send or pour down (rain or other precipitation) in showers; frequently with adverb or prepositional phrase expressing direction, as down, over, on, etc. Also: to send or pour down showers on (a place).
ΚΠ
1577 J. Caldwell Serm. preached before Earle of Darbie sig. Evv He showered downe fier and brimstone from heauen, vpon Sodom and Gomorra.
1596 W. Warner Æneidos in Albions Eng. (new ed.) 321 The Skye, ouer-cast with black Clowdes, showred downe such flashes of Lightening, vollies of Thunder, Haylestones, and Raine.
1616 T. Adams Divine Herball 12 The Clouds showred downe seasonable deawes.
1655 N. N. America i. xii. 211 Though it lie within the Tropiques in the twenty first degree of latitude, yet is the aire about it very cold, and the place in the moneths of June, July, and August, constantly showred with rain.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 152 When God hath showrd the earth. View more context for this quotation
1754 J. Cennick Beatitudes 21 The Skies showered down Hail-stones and Fire on those who hated them.
1797 R. Southey Poems 17 The vernal clouds descending Shower down their fertilizing rain.
1828 D. M. Moir Life Mansie Wauch xi. 99 The clouds showered snows over the fading hills.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. x. 65 The clouds..showered their liquid spheres down upon us.
1900 A. Black Evening & Morning iii. 60 In the midst of our hot and dusty world this garden stands and heaven itself showers it and fans it.
1930 J. E. Abbott tr. Mahipati Tukaram xxx. 105 It is due to the good fortune of the king's subjects that clouds shower abundant rain on the earth.
2003 Irish Times (Nexis) 3 July 20 Heavy clouds showered London.
3.
a.
(a) transitive. To pour out (water or other liquid) in a copious spray or stream. In early use esp.: to shed (tears).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or fact of pouring or being poured > pour [verb (transitive)] > forth, as in a stream
flow1550
shower1567
1567 G. Turberville tr. Ovid Heroycall Epist. f. 145v Upon my cheekes I see my parents showre Their drearie teares and saltish brine for woe.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis ii. 29 Hector..salt tears dolfulye showred.
1594 S. Daniel Trag. Cleopatra i. ii. 73 And vp they hoise the swounding body there Of pale Antonius showring out his blood.
1614 S. Jerome Moses his Sight of Canaan 108 They haue rayned, powred, and showred downe their teares into the Lords bosome.
1635 A. Stafford Femall Glory sig. e5 Presume not thou to number what her eyes Showre forth in teares.
1703 W. Pittis True-born-Hugonot 17 Whose Pen showr's Ink like the descending Rain.
1795 R. Cumberland Henry III. viii. x. 206 The same eyes that showered tears in secret.
1879 ‘Mrs. Forrester’ Rhona I. xvi. 175 He holds it all awry, showering drops of grease liberally on the carpet as he goes.
1883 J. G. Winton Mod. Steam Pract. 423 The injection pipe on the opposite side [is] arranged for showering the water downwards.
1946 Boys' Life June 42/3 It landed on the canoe-bottom flailing about with its tail, showering water from its dripping skin all over Don.
1995 Financial Times 6 Nov. 3/1 One of the bullets that killed him..showered blood over the score of A Song of Peace in his breast pocket.
(b) transitive. To douse with a copious spray or stream of water or other liquid; to water, to make wet.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > condition of being or making wet > make wet [verb (transitive)] > with water > with or as with a shower
shower1640
1640 R. Howard Sacred Poeme 2 For there's his garden, there those happy groaues,..there Caluarye showërd with æternal blood.
1657 T. Reeve God's Plea for Nineveh 88 Every street of the City..is drenched, and showred with tears.
1850 Horticulturist June 566/2 I showered the trees before the bud broke, with whitewash.
1893 Tyrone (Pa.) Daily Herald 28 Aug. 1/5 Everything was showered with blood.
1909 H. A. Shute Farming it xiii. 114 Then we have thunderously passed the bridge,..where a sudden breeze showers us with big drops.
1917 Market Growers Jrnl. 1 Feb. 118/3 I stood there from midnight till sunrise with a hose and sprinkled and showered the plants.
2008 S. Grindley Broken Glass iii. 29 My brother..shook himself like a dog so that we were both showered with spray.
b. intransitive. Of water or other liquid: to cascade in a copious spray or stream. Frequently with adverb or prepositional phrase expressing direction, as down, over, on, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > falling > fall [verb (intransitive)] > drop or fall vertically > (as) from the sky > copiously
rainOE
rineOE
shower1582
hail1859
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iv. 75 At my tears showring dyd he sigh? dyd he winck with his eyelyd?
1601 J. Weever Mirror of Martyrs sig. Eiiij Teares from her eies did shower.
1618 J. Bullokar in E. Farr Sel. Poetry Reign James I (1847) 291 This precious liquor..Whose sweet-distilling drops full mainly showres Adowne his neck.
1652 R. Carpenter Perfect-law of God 226 Stooping in his Drunkenness,..[he] drop'd himself..into the Vessel..and left the Wine showring upon his Head.
1741 J. Sacheverell Tempest 29 The briny foam, Impetuous skims; thick showering o'er the main.
1805 D. Smith tr. Anc. Gaelic Poems in Rep. on Ossian 211 Blood showered upon the ground.
1830 Ld. Tennyson Sea-fairies in Poems 150 Down shower the gambolling waterfalls From wandering over the lea.
1856 C. M. Yonge Daisy Chain ii. iv. 39 Ethel gave her the letter, and Mary's tears showered very fast—they always came readily.
1938 R. Belbenoit Dry Guillotine viii. 92 A third surge of water descended over us, showering down on our backs.
2011 A. L. Tavares Decency xxvii. 162 He..sat down on the cold porcelain and let the water shower over him.
†c. intransitive. To weep, to shed tears. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > sorrow or grief > lamentation or expression of grief > weeping > weep [verb (intransitive)]
greetc725
weepc900
tearc950
plore1373
beweepc1374
to put one's finger in one's eye1447
waterc1450
lachryme1490
cryc1532
lerma1533
tricklec1540
to water one's plants1542
to show tears1553
shower1597
issuea1616
lachrymate1623
sheda1632
pipe1671
to take a pipe1671
to pipe one's eye (also eyes)?1789
twine1805
to let fall1816
whinnya1825
blub1866
slobber1875
blart1896
skrike1904
water-cart1914
1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet iii. v. 130 Why how now, euermore showring ? View more context for this quotation
1621 M. Wroth Countesse of Mountgomeries Urania 423 Why doe you so much wish for raine, when I, Whose eyes still showring are, stand you so nigh?
1628 H. Reynolds Ariadne's Complaint in tr. T. Tasso Aminta sig. L2v Her head shee layes; and with eyes showring still,..thus repeates her ill.
1885 G. Meredith Diana of Crossways III. xiv. 295 Her dark eyes showered.
4.
a. intransitive. Of an abundance of small objects or fragments: to fall or move together or in a mass, in the manner of a shower of rain; to cascade. Frequently with adverb or prepositional phrase expressing direction, as down, over, on, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)] > cascade down
downpoura1522
shower1595
cascade1702
waterfall1957
1595 E. Hoby tr. L.-V. de La Popelinière Hist. France i. 46 He assailed the garde on the other shoare notwithstanding the Cannon shot, which showred downe on euerie side.
1615 A. Munday Metropolis Coronata sig. A4 Comely Eunuches..had all their garments immediatly sprinkled ouer with golde, euen as if it had showred downe in droppes vpon them.
1683 Apol. Protestants France ii. 12 Instead of having the Heavenly Mannah shower down at the Doors of their Tabernacles.
1718 E. Berkeley Vesuvius in Philos. Trans. 1717–19 (Royal Soc.) (1720) 30 711 Ashes continually shower'd on us all the way from the Sea-Coast.
1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor ix, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. I. 270 The soot..showered down the huge tunnelled chimnies.
1890 W. J. Gordon Foundry 155 The sparks showering off as if from a catherine-wheel.
1910 J. Aitken in Encycl. Brit. VIII. 714/2 These [dust particles] when showering down as rain tend to wash the others out of the atmosphere.
1975 Pop. Mech. July 133/1 The truck hit, and glass showered down on me.
2006 K. Blackburn Grandma's Garden (2007) xxiv. 298 Confetti showered over the happy couple.
b.
(a) transitive. To throw or drop (an abundance of small objects or fragments); spec. (esp. in early use) to launch or fire (a large number of missiles) at the same time or in rapid succession. Frequently with adverb or prepositional phrase expressing direction, as down, over, on, †out.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > let fall or drop > drop down copiously or in a shower
rainOE
rineOE
snow?a1366
shower1611
sleet1786
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > letting or sending out > let or send out [verb (transitive)] > emit > copiously
yeteOE
effuse1398
hella1400
pourc1451
pump1580
shower1611
beteem?1630
repump1753
pail1807
volume1815
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. vi. xiv. 215/1 The Britaines..auoided the volue of the Romans, showring downe withall great store of theirs vpon them.
1656 W. Sanderson Compl. Hist. Mary & James VI i. 181 The Fellowes got up on their feet,..showring such a storm of arrows upon Arroll, that [etc.].
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 772 On thir naked limbs the flourie roof Showrd Roses. View more context for this quotation
1739 Universal Hist. IV. iii. iii. 510 They..showered from all parts darts and stones on those illustrious warriors.
1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall V. l. 198 A miraculous flight of birds, who showered down stones on the heads of the infidels.
1807 J. Hall Trav. Scotl. II. 458 They would have hissed him, and showered rotten eggs at his head.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Godiva in Poems (new ed.) II. 114 She shook her head, And shower'd the rippled ringlets to her knee.
1869 H. F. Tozer Res. Highlands of Turkey II. 331 Sugar-plums..are showered..by friends over the bride.
1878 S. Phillips On Seaboard 109 Does the crab-tree shower down Perfumed snow for treading?
1946 V. N. Wood Metall. Materials i. 17 Particles of white-hot slag and metal are showered into the air.
1956 Life 17 Dec. 61/1 The devout showered petals and prostrated themselves.
2013 Plymouth Herald (Nexis) 29 Nov. 2 An abandoned chapel collapsed and showered debris into the road.
(b) transitive. To cover (a person or place) with an abundance of small objects or fragments; to scatter or strew (a surface) with something. Frequently in passive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter [verb (transitive)] > scatter (a surface) with something
sticka1350
setc1386
ficche1413
sprinkle?1518
scatter1590
sow1611
spatter1647
shower1798
1798 Sketch Life Burke in E. Burke Beauties I. p. xlviii He resigned his little country wench for a fine city dame, attired in the richest silks, and showered with diamonds.
a1821 J. Keats Otho v. v, in R. M. Milnes Life, Lett. & Lit. Remains Keats (1848) II. 197 Ladies..bright In silks, with spangles shower'd.
1864 ‘E. Kirke’ Down in Tennessee xvi. 216 An acre on fire, and showered with bullets, lay between them and the menaced troops.
1895 R. W. Chambers King in Yellow (1909) 128 The gorse scraped against my leggings..showering the brown earth with blossoms.
1972 N.Y. Times 17 Sept. 10/1 The blasts..threw shoppers to the ground and showered passers-by with glass and debris.
2014 B. Nicholson & S. Huck Fruitful 151 Serve the grilled fruit over ice cream or on a platter, showered with torn mint leaves or toasted coconut.
5.
a. transitive. To wash (a person) in a shower (shower n.1 16a). Also reflexive: to wash (oneself) in a shower (now chiefly in negative contexts with reference to a person's inability to perform such an action).In early use sometimes with reference to a method of punishment; cf. shower bath n. 2a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > wash one's body or part of it [verb (transitive)] > bathe > in a shower-bath
shower1818
1818 J. K. Griffith Gen. Cheltenham Guide (ed. 2) xiii. 71 A cold shower bath, whereby an opportunity is afforded to persons to adopt the Russian practice of showering themselves after the enjoyment of warm bathing.
1840 Boston Med. & Surg. Jrnl. 22 Jan. 384 It is also his duty..to shower them [sc. patients in an asylum] occasionally as a means for health, or as a punishment for misconduct.
1851 I. H. Hunt Astounding Disclosures! iii. 7 I heard a scream..; I supposed he had been put into the shower box and showered.
1907 R. H. Babcock Dis. Lungs xxx. 592 In the course of time the patient may be able to shower himself.
1930 U. Parrott Strangers may Kiss 196 He..asked if he could do anything helpful about dinner, and when she said ‘no’, went to shower himself.
1998 Guardian 4 Aug. 3/4 When Mr Brown arrived at the project, he was unable to bath or shower himself,..and could not cook, shop or manage a budget.
2007 R. L. Ginibi All my Mob 270 Shellie and Roberta..showered the kids and put them to bed.
b. intransitive. Originally U.S. To wash oneself in a shower; to have a shower.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > wash oneself [verb (intransitive)] > bathe > in shower-bath
shower1929
1929 San Antonio (Texas) Express 22 Dec. b5/1 Folding his orange pajamas neatly over the foot of his bed, he proceeded to shower, shave and dress.
1948 Sun (Baltimore) 1 Oct. 15/4 Jockeys..had to shower before donning silks for their next riding assignment.
1966 T. Pynchon Crying of Lot 49 v. 115 The executive undressed, showered and hung his suit out on the line to dry.
2005 P. D. James Lighthouse (2006) ii. 307 She showered, changed her shirt and vigorously brushed and replaited her hair.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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