[f. TAR sb. + WATER sb.]
1. An infusion of tar in cold water, formerly in repute as a medicine.
1740–1. Berkeley, Let. T. Prior, 8 Feb. I believe tar-water might be useful to prevent … such an evil [a felon]. Ibid. (1744), (title) Philosophical Reflexions and Inquiries concerning the Virtues of Tar-Water [ed. 2 Siris, a Chain of Philosophical [etc.]].
1744. Gray, Lett. to Wharton, 26 April. Mr. Trollope and I are in a course of Tar-Water.
1756. H. Walpole, Lett. to Mann, 8 Dec. He [Sir H. Mann’s brother] has been drinking tar-water since the middle of November.
1840. E. FitzGerald, Letters (1889), I. 60. I have also just concocted two gallons of Tar water under the directions of Bishop Berkeley.
1891. Sydney, Eng. in 18th C., I. 311. No remedy was more popular during the second half of the eighteenth century than tar-water.
2. ‘The ammoniacal water of gas-works’ (Simmonds, Dict. Trade, 1858).
