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

Chief Engineer Roberto Cayabyab Penaflor admitted to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships for knowingly discharging untreated oily bilge water directly from the tanker into the sea, federal prosecutors said.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 9, 2023

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

From BBC • Jan. 9, 2020

The documents also show illegal practices were found on four other Princess ships, including use of clean ocean water to fool onboard sensors that would otherwise detect dumping of improperly contaminated bilge water.

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.