water-cart

water-cart

A street cleaner fills the water-cart at a public hydrant.

Definition

Noun: A "water-cart" is a vehicle, typically a cart or wagon, designed to carry and distribute water, often used for watering roads, gardens, or for selling water.

Usage Examples
  • (A vehicle used to spray water on roads.)
  • (A cart used to transport and sell water.)
Advanced Usage
  • "To be on the water-cart": a historical phrase meaning to abstain from alcohol, often used in temperance movements.
    • After his health scare, he decided to get on the water-cart and stop drinking. (He chose to stop consuming alcoholic beverages.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Water-wagon (n): an alternative spelling for a water-cart, especially in American English.
    • The water-wagon was used to irrigate the fields. (The vehicle distributed water for agricultural purposes.)
  • Water-tanker (n): a larger vehicle, often a truck, used to transport bulk water.
    • The water-tanker refilled the village reservoir. (A large truck carrying water.)
Synonyms
  • Water carrier: a person or vehicle that transports water.
  • Water truck: a motorized vehicle used for the same purpose as a water-cart.
Related Idioms
  • "To fall off the water-cart": to resume drinking alcohol after a period of abstinence.
    • He had been sober for months, but he fell off the water-cart at the party. (He returned to drinking alcohol.)