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drinkwater en · ADJ

Etymology

From Middle English drinkwater (attested as a nickname), equivalent to drink + water. Compare Saterland Frisian Drinkwoater (“drinkwater”), West Frisian drinkwetter (“drinkwater”), Dutch drinkwater (“drinkwater”), German Low German Drinkwater (“drinkwater”), German Trinkwasser (“drinkwater”).

Meanings

1. (not-comparable, of a place) Small, rural, and insignificant.
   • I'm surprised they have that kind of thing in a drinkwater place like this. 2014, Richard Hoyt, Decoys: A John Denson Mystery, →ISBN, page 50:
   • And for a moment it seemed that everything would be all right, that we were traveling back in time to that idyllic farm near a drinkwater town in Iowa, back to my boyhood, and that Mina would always smile up at me from her bed. 1972, Barry Brissman, Swing low, page 60:
   • “[...] Heard she killed two of them Jenson brothers in some drinkwater town in Kansas?” 2016, Michael Kahmann, A Contract For Ethan:

Synonyms

backwater (insignificant) · podunk (insignificant) · jerkwater (insignificant)

drinkwater en · NOUN

Etymology

From Middle English drinkwater (attested as a nickname), equivalent to drink + water. Compare Saterland Frisian Drinkwoater (“drinkwater”), West Frisian drinkwetter (“drinkwater”), Dutch drinkwater (“drinkwater”), German Low German Drinkwater (“drinkwater”), German Trinkwasser (“drinkwater”).

Meanings

1. (uncountable) Potable water; water intended for drinking
   • “I'll come back and bring you some drinkwater," he said. 1916, McClure's Magazine, volume 47:
   • In very dry seasons some drinkwater is brought from wells dug in the bed of the river, about half-an hour from the village. 1905, Cape of Good Hope (South Africa). Colonial Secretary's Dept. Local Government and Health Branch, Reports:

Synonyms

drinking water (potable water)