bilge water

American  

noun

1. Nautical. bilge.

2. Also called bilge.  Slang. foolish, worthless, or offensive talk or ideas; nonsense; rubbish.

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Etymology

Origin of bilge water

First recorded in 1700–10

Example Sentences

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

From BBC • Jan. 9, 2020

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

From Seattle Times • Oct. 16, 2019

Sometimes bilge water can be discharged into the ocean but only after almost all oil is separated out.

From The Guardian • Dec. 2, 2016

Eventually, with the help of a confidential informant, investigators would learn of the ship’s multiple unreported engine failures and makeshift hose-and-barrel system for bilge water that discharged oily waste into the ocean.

From New York Times • Dec. 30, 2014

Often and often I’ve known the whole ship’s company get no better fare than that, with little better than bilge water to drink.

From The Two Supercargoes Adventures in Savage Africa by Skinner, E.F.