water witch

¹ American  

noun

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

2. a witch believed to haunt lakes, ponds, etc.

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water-witch ² American  

[waw-ter-wich, wot-er-] / ˈwɔ tərˌwɪtʃ, ˈwɒt ər- /

verb (used without object)

1. to practice water witching; work as a water witch.

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water witch British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of water witch

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20

Example Sentences

Gyatso said 90 percent of the ink he uses is from a company called Eternal Ink and is made from organic pigments, distilled water, witch hazel and alcohol.

From Washington Times • Apr. 8, 2017

After the valley’s most popular dowser died in recent years, Mondavi has become the go-to water witch in Napa Valley.

From Washington Post • Mar. 3, 2014

When Susan Lynch played a selkie in Roan Inish, she was otherworldly, like some crazy, albeit gorgeous, water witch.

From Time • Jun. 3, 2010

The Woodvilles were convinced that they were descended from a French water witch named Melusine who lived during the tag end of the Wars of the Roses.

From Time Magazine Archive

“He knows more about water than anybody around here. He’s a water witch and a well-digger too. He’ll tell you. He’s put down half the wells in this part of the valley.”

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck