1. The action or an act of drinking water.
1698. Floyer, Asthma (1717), 191. Much Water-drinking is injurious to the Old.
1774. Foote, Cozeners, Prol. I am no fish, save me from water-drinking!
1896. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., I. 410. Water-drinking is certainly beneficial between meals.
2. Drinking mineral waters at a spa.
1697. Floyer, Enq. Baths, Pref. c 4 b. By Water-drinking, and Bathing at Buxton, I have procured to my self better Health.
1789. Pilkington, View Derbysh., I. 230. In many cases much advantage has been gained by the administration of medicines in conjunction with the course of water-drinking.
attrib. 1789. Charlotte Smith, Ethelinde (1814), I. 106. Sometimes people of a certain style make acquaintance at water-drinking places.
