water-inch

[ waw-ter-inch, wot-er- ]

noun

, Hydraulics.

1. the quantity of water (approx. 500 cubic feet) discharged in 24 hours through a circular opening of one inch diameter leading from a reservoir in which the water is constantly only high enough to cover the orifice.

Word History and Origins

Origin of water-inch¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

No time to get one's breath, no chance to edge into the cold water inch by inch—the thing was to be done at once.

From Project Gutenberg

He crawled into the water inch by inch, scarcely breaking the calm, black surface.

From Project Gutenberg