watering noun. ['wɔ:t(ǝ)rɪŋ] OE.
[from WATER verb + -ING¹.]
1. The action of WATER verb. OE.

2. A place where horses and cattle were taken to drink. LME-E17.

3. A place where ships obtained a supply of fresh water. L16-L17.

4. a. Water for irrigation. E17-E18.
b. A ditch draining a marsh; the tract drained by such a ditch. dial. L18.

5. A wavy variegated appearance given to silk, metal, etc.; a moiré pattern. L17.

Comb.:
watering-can a portable container for watering plants, having a long spout usu. ending in a perforated sprinkler; watering-hole (a) a water-hole where animals regularly drink; (b) joc. a place supplying alcoholic refreshment; watering-house an inn where coachmen obtained water for their horses and refreshment for themselves; watering-place (a) a place in a river or lake regularly drunk from by animals; a pool or trough for cattle and horses; (b) a place where a supply of water can be obtained; (c) a place for bathing in or drinking the waters of a mineral spring, a spa; a seaside resort; watering-pot (a) a watering-can; (b) Zoology (the shell of) any of several burrowing bivalve molluscs of the genus Penicillus (family Clavagellidae), which secrete a long perforated shelly tube to which the small valves are fused.

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