Also snow water. [f. SNOW sb.1 Cf. Fris. sniewetter, MDu. snee(u)water (Du. sneeuwwater), MHG. snêwazzer (G. schneewasser), etc.] Water derived or obtained from melted snow. Also transf.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 159. Þe ter þet mon schet for his emcristenes sunne is inemned snaw water, for hit melt of þe neche horte swa deð þe snaw to-ȝeines þe sunne.
1434. Misyn, Mending of Life, 122. If I be waschyd with snaw watyr.
1535. Coverdale, Job ix. 30. Though I wasshed my self with snowe water.
1599. Minsheu, Span. Dial., 18. In Spaine they coole their wine by setting the flagons in snow water.
1620. Venner, Via Recta, Introd. 10. Snow-waters are grosse and ouer cold.
1694. Acc. Sev. Late Voy. (1711), I. 74. Several streams of Snow-water run down in the Cliffs of the Hills.
1763. Mills, Pract. Husb., III. 454. He rejects snow water for the same reason.
1789. W. Buchan, Dom. Med. (1790), 67. The inhabitants of the Peak of Derby … have large tumours or wens on their necks. This disease is generally imputed to the snow water.
1809. A. Henry, Trav., 278. We supped on wild beef and snow-water.
1855. Orr’s Circ. Sci., Elem. Chem., 299. Even rain and snow-water are far from pure.
1903. A. C. P. Haggard, Sport. Yarns, 273. The snow water used to come down the Don every afternoon.
