1. A drop or globule of water. Usually pl.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., IV. i. 262. Oh, that I were a Mockerie, King of Snow, Standing before the Sunne of Bullingbrooke To melt my selfe away in Water-drops. Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., III. ii. 193. When water drops haue worne the Stones of Troy.
1821. Byron, Cain, II. i. 17. There will come An hour, when toss’d upon some water-drops, A man shall say to a man, ‘Believe in me, And walk the waters.’
1825. Scott, Talism., xx. The devil a water-drop he gets here…. We will teach the light-footed old infidel to be a good Christian, and drink wine of Cyprus.
1866. G. Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., iii. The water-wheel, mossy and green with ancient waterdrops.
Comb. 1899. trans. R. von Jaksch’s Clin. Diagn., vi. (ed. 4), 211. The small shiny water-drop-like bodies.
2. A tear, tear-drop.
1605. Shaks., Lear, II. iv. 280. Let not womens weapons, water drops, Staine my mans cheekes.
1818. Byron, Ch. Har., IV. cxvi. Egeria!… The mosses of thy fountain still are sprinkled With thine Elysian water-drops.
1825. J. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, II. 149. The large water-drop stood upon his lashes.
3. Sc. = EAVESDRIP, STILLICIDE 2.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxvii. This is a’ about a servitude of water-drap. Ibid. We are obligated to receive the natural water-drap of the superior tenement.
