well watern.
/ˈwɛl ˌwɔːtə/, U.S. /ˈwɛl ˌwɔdər/, /ˈwɛl ˌwɑdər/ Water issuing from a spring or (now usually) drawn from a well. Also in plural in same sense.figurative in quot. a1225.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > water > [noun] > from a spring, fountain, or well
well watereOE
pit watera1398
spring-waterc1450
watersc1484
fountain-water1572
spa-water1589
eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) i. xxxi. 74 Wyrc þæt bæþ of þam ilcum wyrtum on cealdum wylle wætre.
OE tr. Medicina de Quadrupedibus (Vitell.) i. 238 Seoðe þonne his [sc. the badger's] sceallan on yrnendum wyllewætere.
a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 159 Þe ter þet Mon wepð for laðe of þisse liue is inemned welle water, for he welleð of þe horte swa doð water of welle.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 9876 We habbeoð þe ibroht..cæld welle water [c1300 Otho welles water].
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. xiii. i. 648 Aftir reyne water, welle watir is beste.
tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) viii. l. 129 For meth..A sester of vnscomed hony do In sestris vj of welle water cleer.
c1480 (a1400) St. Thomas Apostle 94 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 131 Vith þat þat servand mad hym ȝare,..þe velvatter for to brynge.
1533 T. Paynell tr. U. von Hutten De Morbo Gallico v. f. 9 I put well water or ryuer water into a newe potte.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie ii. xi. 45 They haue none other water to drinke then well water.
1630 Bp. J. Hall Occas. Medit. §li All experience teacheth vs that Well-waters arising from deepe springs, are hoter in Winter, then in Summer.
1683 J. Pettus tr. L. Ercker v. vii. 333 in Fleta Minor i They pour clean Well-Water upon it, that it may be well washed from the most part of its redness, and become white.
1745 P. Thomas True Jrnl. Voy. South-Seas 164 Well-water is to be found at a small Depth almost in every Part of the Island.
1789 J. Byng Diary 31 May in C. B. Andrews Torrington Diaries (1936) IV. 103 In our Way drinking of the..Well Water in the meadows.
1817 W. Pitt Topogr. Hist. Staffs. ii. 173 The well water..is also aluminous.
1860 Family Economist 28 Apr. 271/1 Some of the well waters of London contain eighty grains of chalk in a gallon.
1911 M. Johnston Long Roll v. 49 Lifting the gourd of well water to his lips.
1974 A. J. Winkler Gen. Viticulture (rev ed.) xvi. 402 Many well waters of the coastal valleys are likewise unsuited for vineyard irrigation.
2009 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 12 Feb. a17/4 Mr. Brown and his son..have kept their 2,000 head of Angus, Hereford and Akaushi cattle watered by pumping well water into troughs.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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