bilge water

noun

1. Nautical. bilge ( def 1d ).
2. Also called bilge. Slang. foolish, worthless, or offensive talk or ideas; nonsense; rubbish.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bilge water¹

First recorded in 1700–10

Example Sentences

Chief Engineer Roberto Cayabyab Penaflor admitted to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships for knowingly discharging untreated oily bilge water directly from the tanker into the sea, federal prosecutors said.

From Seattle Times

All that cargo coming and going has inevitably brought nonnative species: stowaways slithering in the holds of ships or sloshing around in the bilge water.

From Washington Post

Today, we know that bilge water in ballast is a place where mosquitoes breed.

From Washington Post

Some suggest bilge water from passing freighters could be aggravating its spread in Turks and Caicos.

From BBC

The Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships requires oily bilge water to be treated before being released into the sea.

From Seattle Times