† 1. An irruption of water: = water-breach (WATER sb. 20). Obs.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, II. vi. 15. Quhen the burne on spait hurlis doun the bank, Othir throw a water brek, or spait of fluide.
2. Broken water, a piece of broken water.
1806. Wordsw., Misc. Sonn., II. xxxi. 5. Brook!… whom the curious Painter doth pursue Through rocky passes,… And tracks thee dancing down thy water-breaks. Ibid. (1835), To May, 75. Streams … Gurgling in foamy water-break, Loitering in glassy pool.
1850. Clough, Dipsychus, II. iv. 94. The dashing stream Stays not to pick his steps among the rocks, Or let his water-breaks be chronicled.
1855. Tennyson, Brook, 61. And here and there a foamy flake Upon me, as I travel With many a silvery water break Above the golden gravel.
1899. Stopf. A. Brooke, in L. P. Jacks, Life & Lett. (1917), II. V. xxv. 512. The gay stream, which … runs from one foaming water-break to another.
3. A breakwater. ? nonce-use.
1875. trans. Comte de Paris’ Civ. War Amer., I. 448. This island … stretches in front of the entrance of Pensacola Bay; and at the extremity of this natural waterbreak stands Fort Pickens.
