1. A canal constructed on a level, without locks.
1861. Smiles, Engineers, V. vi. I. 386. We find him [sc. Brindley] contriving a water-plane for the Duke’s collieries.
2. Ship-building. A plane passing through a vessel when afloat, on a level with the surface of the water.
1889. Welch, Text Bk. Naval Archit., i. 8. The line in which the surface of the water cuts the surface of the ship … is called the water line..., the area enclosed by that line being the water plane area.
3. An aeroplane constructed so as to be capable of rising from, alighting upon, and travelling on the water.
1911. Petaluma Argus, 26 Jan., 1/6. Glen Curtiss flying in a ‘Waterplane’ rose from the water in San Diego bay.
1913. Daily Mail, 3 April. A waterplane is a sea-going aeroplane.
1913. Times, 14 May, 5/6. Mr. Howard Wright … was attempting to rise from the sea on a waterplane at Cowes yesterday afternoon when the machine capsized.
