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definitions

first water

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noun

(formerly) the highest degree of fineness in a diamond or other precious stone.Compare water(def 13).
the finest quality; highest rank.

Origin of first water

First recorded in 1745–55
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for first water

Historical Examples of first water

  • Yet they were constantly after him, for they knew they were likely to get a first-water gem.

  • An expert would have known immediately that it was a first-water product of an expert gunsmith.

  • She was got up expensive, all real lace and first-water sparks, and just as handsome as a towel rack.

    Shorty McCabe

    Sewell Ford

British Dictionary definitions for first water

first water

noun

the finest quality of diamond or other precious stone
the highest grade or best quality
the most extreme kinda fool of the first water
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012