draw-well

draw-well

A farmer uses a draw-well to water his crops.

Definition

Noun: A deep well from which water is drawn up by a bucket on a rope or chain, typically operated by a windlass or pulley.

Usage Examples
  • (A deep well with a bucket and rope mechanism.)
  • (The action of drawing water from a deep well.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to work like a draw-well": (informal, figurative) to work continuously or tirelessly, drawing up resources.

    • He works like a draw-well, always producing new ideas. (He is a constant source of creativity.)
  • "draw-well of knowledge": a metaphor for a person or source that provides abundant information.

    • The library was a draw-well of knowledge for the community. (A rich and accessible source.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Draw-well (n): the term itself is a compound; no common variants exist.
  • Draw (v): to pull or haul; related to the action of pulling up water.
    • She had to draw water from the well every morning. (To pull water upward.)
  • Well (n): a hole dug in the ground to obtain water.
    • The well was dry after the long drought. (A source of underground water.)
Synonyms
  • Deep well: a well that extends far into the ground.
  • Bucket well: a well equipped with a bucket for drawing water.
  • Windlass well: a well with a winding mechanism for lifting water.
Related Idioms
  • To draw water from a dry well: to attempt to obtain something from a source that has none.

    • Asking him for a loan is like drawing water from a dry well. (Futile effort.)
  • Well of sorrow: (no direct idiom with "draw-well", but "well" is used metaphorically.)

    • Her heart was a well of sorrow. (A deep source of sadness.)