Water heated to a degree considerably below boiling-point. Also attrib. (with hyphen).
c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 902, in Babees Bk., 178. And watur warme his handes to wasche.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. 34 b. Lyntels … groweth hye … when it is wette in warme water and Saltpeter before it be sowen.
a. 1756. Eliza Haywood, New Present for Maid (1771), 267. Wet the linen with warm water.
1876. Clin. Soc. Trans., IX. 10. A vesicular rash,… which subsided with warm-water dressing.
1896. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., I. 428. A warm-water pillow may be ordered.
b. The seas of warmer regions as opposed to the Arctic Ocean. Also attrib.
1883. Wallem, Fish Supply Norway, 4. These warm-water basins in the Norwegian Ocean are of the greatest importance for the fauna and flora, for the life in the ocean as well as for the life on shore.
1898. Westm. Gaz., 7 March, 1/2. Our own Ministers have invited Russia to a warm-water port. Ibid., 26 Sept., 1/2. Russia … may fairly desire access to ‘the warm water,’ as the phrase goes.
† c. fig. Cf. HOT WATER 3. Obs.
1813. Examiner, 29 March, 207/2. He lives in eternal warm water.
