waterfrontn.
/ˈwɔːtəfrʌnt/, U.S. /ˈwɔdərˌfrənt/, /ˈwɑdərˌfrənt/ 1. Originally North American. An area of land, or a district of a town or city, which borders a river, lake, or other body of water; (sometimes) spec. a dockyard. Also: the part of a body of water which meets the shore. Also occasionally as mass noun.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > land mass > shore or bank > land near coast > [noun] > exposed to sea > of town
waterfront1766
seafront1879
plage1888
sea-frontage1897
1766 in Laws N. Carolina (1791) iv. 234 The Water Fronts of the Lots herein before mentioned are divided from the said Lots by a Street.
1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits iii. 47 A people so skilful and sufficient in economizing water-front by docks, warehouses, and lighters.
1890 E. E. H. Specht Alfrieda vi. 79 Rows of straggling, homely houses, facing the water front.
1914 Shoe Workers' Jrnl. June 5/1 A general strike of all men on the waterfront followed.
1923 National Geographic Mag. Apr. 433/1 The 19 miles of waterfront..form in sad truth probably the ugliest river front in all America.
1999 G. Kissick Winter in Volcano (2000) xxxi. 291 They ate seafood in a weathered diner..then walked along the waterfront until it rained.
2008 Louisiana Life Spring 50/1 Moss-draped cypress trees face the waterfront.
2. U.S. An apparatus fitted in a stove or range for providing domestic hot water.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming
fire engine1735
house-warmer1812
warmer1812
water wall1853
waterfront1867
fire1895
heater-
1867 Lynn (Mass.) Directory (advt.) Chilson's New Cooking Stove...Sizes suited to all practical purposes..with or without Water Fronts, Extension Tops, Hot Closets, Reservoirs, &c.
1934 N.Y. Court of Appeals: Rec. & Briefs 27 Apr. (1935) 75 Assuming that there was a waterfront containing water and that the pipes were..stopped up, common experience might tell a reasonably prudent man what would be the result when violent heat was applied.
1984 Daily News-Record (Harrisonburg, Va.) 4 Jan. 23/1 Wood or coal range with water front and tank, $600.
Compounds
attributive, esp. designating a building or structure situated on a waterfront.
ΚΠ
1868 London & China Express 27 Jan. 76/1 The water-front people..were too glad to obtain the present use of the valuable quay.
1879 2nd Ann. Rep. Board Land Commissioners 1878 (Boston, Mass.) 14 An act ceding to the said city certain flats in said basin, for a waterfront promenade, 200 feet in width, outside the present harbor lines.
1904 Boston Globe 7 Apr. 13/1 (advt.) Water Front House Lots on shore of beautiful lake.
1918 Punch 27 Mar. 206/1 In many a sailors' drinking-place and water-front saloon.
2010 Wall St. Jrnl. 26 Nov. d7/3 (advt.) Luxurious waterfront living in this brick residence with unveiled views.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2015; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1766