[See PROOF a. 1 b.] A. adj. Impervious to water; capable of resisting the deleterious action of water.
1736. Gentl. Mag., VI. 732/1. The everlasting Mountains would be Water-Proof.
1802. W. Jessop, in Minutes Comm. Surrey Iron Rlwy., 7 Oct. Quarries of Limestone at Merstham, apparently superior in Quality for Water-Proof Lime to either that of Guildford or Dorking.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 823. To render Boots and Shoes waterproof.
1816. Sporting Mag., XLVIII. 192. Joseph Egg’s Water Proof Gun.
1836. W. Irving, Astoria (1849), 337. These hats were nearly waterproof, and extremely durable.
1871. Mrs. Brookfield, Influence, II. 30. The Miss Shaws, in neat waterproof travelling suits.
1877. Huxley, Physiogr., 29. Not a drop of water can reach it as long as the waterproof roof remain sound.
1920. Conquest, May, 311/3. Nowadays the cry is for waterproof roads.
b. transf. and fig.
1831. Trelawny, Adv. Younger Son, III. 330. It … didn’t make a man’s inside water-proof, which good Nantz would.
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, xxxvii. But tears were not the things to find their way to Mr. Bumble’s soul; his heart was water-proof.
1854. Surtees, Handley Cr., li. (1901), II. 92. Twice Dribbleford Brook comes in the way for those whose ambition is waterproof.
B. sb. A fabric or garment rendered impervious to water by treatment with india-rubber or the like.
1799. Hull Advertiser, 12 Jan., 2/3. Parish’s patent water-proof, best superfine.
1875. Bedford, Sailor’s Pocket Bk., vii. (ed. 2), 245. Officers … carry clasp-knife,… waterproof, haversack.
1877. Mar. M. Grant, Sun-maid, i. They were clad in grey waterproof.
1880. Howells, Undiscov. Country, x. 139. The teacher took off her waterproof, the hood of which she had drawn over her head.
