watermann.

Etymology: < water n. + man n.¹ Compare Middle Dutch wāterman the constellation Aquarius (1477 in Teuthonista; Dutch waterman, also in the senses ‘ferryman’, ‘person employed in the supply or distribution of water’, ‘merman’), Middle Low German wāterman, in uncertain sense, perhaps ‘the constellation Aquarius’, Old High German wazzarman the constellation Aquarius (Middle High German wazzerman, also in the senses ‘ferryman’, ‘person employed in irrigation’, ‘mythical being living near water’, German Wassermann, also in the sense ‘merman’), Swedish regional vattenmann merman (a1867).Specific senses. In sense 2 translating classical Latin Hydrochoos (see water-pourer n.) and (in later use) Aquārius Aquarius n. In sense 3a after post-classical Latin aquarius (see aquarian n.; compare aquarian n. 1) and its model Hellenistic Greek ὑδροπαραστάτης (see hydroparastates n. at hydro- comb. form 7); compare slightly earlier water-drinker n. 1b. In sense 3b with allusion to water as the necessary matter of the sacrament of baptism. With sense 5 compare earlier waterwoman n. at water n. Compounds 7 (especially quot. 1636 at that lemma). In sense 7 probably with reference to the fact that the handkerchiefs in question are worn by boat race crews. Use in names. Earlier currency is shown by surnames: Wilke Waterman (1196), Johannes le Waterman (c1215), William le Waterman (1249), Ade le Waterman (1279), etc., although the precise sense is unclear, probably either ‘boatman’ (compare sense 1) or ‘water carrier’ (compare waterleader n. 1); a sense ‘person living by the water’ is also possible. (The earliest example above could alternatively show a variant of Walterman, i.e. ‘servant of Walter’.)