water-witch

[waw-ter-wich, wot-er-]

verb (used without object)

to practice water witching; work as a water witch.

water witch

noun

Also water witcher. a person skilled at water witching; dowser.

a witch believed to haunt lakes, ponds, etc.

Origin of water witch

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for water-witch

The profession of a water-witch did not bring enough ducats to the Smith family; so the attempt was made to find hidden treasures.
Lippincott's Magazine, Vol. 26, August, 1880|Various
The first manœuvre of the Water-witch was an attempt to gain the wind of her pursuer.
The Water-Witch or, The Skimmer of the Seas|James Fenimore Cooper
The water-witch fled, but in doing so carried off the best beloved of all the King's warriors.
Young Folks Treasury, Volume 2 (of 12)|Various
We have no want of passes, and the Miller's-Maid is just as good a name to hail by, as the 'Water-witch.'
The Water-Witch or, The Skimmer of the Seas|James Fenimore Cooper

This little bird is the Mother Carey's chicken of sailors, and is also called storm-finch and water-witch.
Poachers and Poaching|John Watson

British Dictionary definitions for water-witch

water witch

noun

a person who claims the ability to detect water underground by means of a divining rod

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

water-witch

verb (used without object)

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Nearby words

water witch

noun

Origin of water witch

Examples from the Web for water-witch

water witch

noun