water ice

noun

1. ice formed by direct freezing of fresh or salt water, and not by compacting of snow.
2. a frozen dessert, similar to sherbet, made of water, sweetener, and fruit syrup or other flavorings.

water ice

noun

1. an ice cream made from a frozen sugar syrup flavoured with fruit juice or purée; sorbet

Word History and Origins

Origin of water ice¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Whether or not water ice is stable on the Moon is determined entirely by sunlight exposure.

From Ars Technica

Spacecraft had seen evidence of water ice in permanently shadowed craters.

From Science News For Students

In lab experiments, water ice samples bombarded with electrons all gave off photons, or light particles, of many different wavelengths.

From Science News

NASA suggests there’s as much as 600 million metric tons of water ice there, which could someday help lunar colonists survive.

From MIT Technology Review

There they could check the soil for resources like water ice or explore other similar areas.

From Science News For Students

Nevertheless it would surprise those acquainted only with fresh water ice to find how tough, sticky and intractable is sea-ice.

From Project Gutenberg

The prisms are of fresh water ice, for in freezing the brine is rejected and forced to occupy the interstices of the prisms.

From Project Gutenberg

Water of good drinking quality can be obtained by allowing sea water ice to thaw partially.

From Project Gutenberg

The brine, of lower freezing-point, flows away, leaving only fresh water ice behind.

From Project Gutenberg

It was while crossing an arm of the sea, a ten-mile run on salt-water ice, that the accident occurred.

From Project Gutenberg

About This Word

What does water ice mean?

Water ice is a frozen dessert, very similar to Italian ice, made in Philadelphia.

How is water ice pronounced?

[ waw-ter ahys ]

Where does water ice come from?

Italian ice is the name of an Italian frozen dessert, like a sorbet or snow cone, made from water and fruit.

The Philadelphia version of this dessert goes back to the late 19th century when the city experienced a large influx of Italian immigrants. These new arrivals began selling Italian ice to the locals.

In 1945, John’s Water Ice opened to sell the dessert. The establishment makes no claim to the name water ice. It also listed the item on the menu without explanation, suggesting water ice had already become a local name for the food.

How is water ice used in real life?

Water ice is a Philadelphia regionalism, most commonly used by residents of the area and people who live near it, including New Jersey and Delaware.

I go to a family party in Jersey and bring quarts of water ice as a South Philly peace offering.

— Gi (@Gi_xx_) August 13, 2016

it’s that time of year for the best philly regional delicacy that’s right baby, water ice

— jesse (@_jorts_) May 4, 2018

Happy #FactFriday! Did you know that Pennsylvania is home of the cheesesteak sandwich, water ice, soft pretzels and TastyKakes? Yum!🧀🥩🥨 https://t.co/hmRguYytqG pic.twitter.com/4vV8gXxm8j

— Woodmont Ridge (@WoodmontRidge) October 12, 2018

More examples of water ice:

“Philadelphia may be best known for its greasy cheesesteaks and technicolored water ice, but there’s so much more to eat in the City of Brotherly Love.”
—Regan Stephens, Eater, September 2018

Note

This content is not meant to be a formal definition of this term. Rather, it is an informal summary that seeks to provide supplemental information and context important to know or keep in mind about the term’s history, meaning, and usage.