[f. BREAK v. + WATER.]
1. Anything that breaks the force of the waves at a particular place, esp. a solid structure of rubble and masonry erected to form or protect a harbor, etc.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), Break-water, the … hull of some old … vessel, sunk at the entrance of a small harbour, to … diminish the force of the waves.
1791. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 100. The house-reef may … be considered as a pier, break-water, or bulwark to vessels lying there.
1846. G. N. Wright, Cream Sci. Knowledge, 58. The most remarkable Break-waters are those of Cherbourg in France, and Plymouth in England.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. iii. 36. This berg is a moving break-water.
1857. Page, Adv. Text-bk. Geol., iii. 60. And present breakwater-like their natural slopes to the action of the waves.
fig. 1854. H. Miller, Sch. & Schm., 332. A breakwater … to protect from that grinding oppression of the poor by the poor.
1875. Fortn. Rev., March, 333. A religious breakwater.
2. In other uses: a. A groyne or barrier on the beach to retain shingle; b. (See quot. 1769).
1721. Perry, Daggenh. Breach, 116. Several low narrow Jetties, (or Break-Waters) extending from the top of the Beach down to the Low Water Mark.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), Break-water is also a sort of small buoy, fastened to a large one in the water, when the buoy-rope of the latter is not long enough to reach from the anchor … to the surface of the water, The use of this break-water is therefore to shew where the buoy swims.
