[f. WATER v. + -ING2.] That waters.
1. a. Of eyes: Discharging watery fluid; running.
a. 1400–50. Stockh. Med. MS., 127. For wattirynge eyne.
c. 1450. M. E. Med. Bk. (Heinrich), 67. Take a rede cowle leef, and ley hit in to þe watrynge eyen.
1551. Turner, Herbal, I. A v b. Wormwode … heleth the watering sores in the corner of the eyes.
1849. Lytton, K. Arthur, II. lxxxii. ‘And now checkmate!’ the wretched sire exclaims, With watering eyes.
b. Of the teeth, mouth: Secreting saliva profusely in anticipation of appetizing food. Also fig.
1630. J. Lane, Contn. Squire’s T., x. 542. But now to tell theire Daintie, roial, fare,… of march pane stuff, which wateringe teeth soone boordes [etc.].
1789. Wolcot (P. Pindar), Expost. Ode, I. ii. Ye sharp State-mousers, with your watering jaws.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xlviii. Diogenes … had been eyeing his intended breakfast with a watering mouth.
1869. C. Gibbon, Robin Gray, xi. Those who knew about James Falcon gave their watering mouths a wry twist.
2. In transitive sense: Irrigating.
1844. Mrs. Browning, Drama of Exile, 553. I feel a music which comes straight from Heaven, As tender as a watering dew.
Hence Wateringly adv.
1621. Lady M. Wroth, Urania, 364. No more able are wee to giue birth to so high desires, then to looke on the Sunne, without hauing … our eyes cast wateringly for presumptuous gazing.
