a. [See TIGHT a. 2 a.]
1. So closely constructed or fitted that water cannot leak through.
1387. Charters, etc. Edin. (1871), 35. Thekyt abovyn with stane and water thycht. Ibid., 36. The qwilke werke the forsaide masounys sal warande watir thicht.
1514. Lincoln Wills (1914), I. 61. To keep hyt wyndthyght and waterthyght.
1554. Extracts Aberd. Reg. (1844), I. 281. Makand the said tolbuith vattirthicht.
1601. T. Milles, Customers Accompt, B ij. Her Houses neither Wind-tight, nor Water-tight.
1648. in J. Davidson, Inverurie (1878), 302. The heritors in all parishes are ordained to keep the kirk wind-fast and water-tight.
1776. in Trans. Soc. Arts (1783), I. 232. High-topped water-tight boots.
1793. Trans. Soc. Arts, V. 202. The joint … is perfectly water-tight.
1835. Marryat, Jacob Faithf., xl. All the nails in Birmingham won’t make this boat water-tight.
1873. B. Stewart, Conserv. Energy, ii. 32. Each of these cylinders is provided with a water-tight piston.
fig. 1647. Ward, Simple Cobler, 33. There is good hope, when peace is setled, people shall dwell more wind-tight and water-tight than formerly.
1892. Daily News, 12 Jan., 4/7. The most watertight scheme hitherto proposed is undoubtedly Mr. Charles Booth’s.
b. Watertight compartment: each of the many compartments, with watertight partitions, into which the interior of a large ship is now usually divided for safety. Hence often fig.
1858. J. Grantham, Iron Ship-building, 48. Several of these [water-tight bulkheads] … divide the vessel into water-tight compartments.
1888. Sir J. Strachey, India, iii. 63. Thus, what has been called ‘the policy of watertight compartments’ has been applied throughout the Indian army.
1902. J. Smith, Integr. Script., vi. (ed. 2), 209. That faith in the Bible … must be kept in a water-tight compartment, jealously excluded from the least contact with criticism.
1912. Evening Sun, 11 April, 1/5. The Hawke, it so happened, was provided with a ram designed specially to sink vessels with water-tight compartments.
2. As sb. (pl.) Watertight boots.
1880. Jefferies, Hodge & M., xxi. (1890), 303. He … slips his feet into his thick ‘water-tights.’
1886. Hardy, Mayor Casterbr., xxvi. Time-stiffened water-tights reappeared.
Hence Watertightness.
1869. Sir E. Reed, Shipbuild., xi. 228. Watertightness is usually secured by working angle-irons around the keelsons or stringers in such a manner as to allow the caulking of the joints to be readily performed.
1882. Athenæum, 6 May, 564/3. To have one’s representations as to the drainage or watertightness of one’s house neglected.
1889. Welch, Text Bk. Naval Archit., vi. 82. The joints being caulked for watertightness.
