ˈwater-rot, v. U.S.
[See rot v. 4 c; cf. water-ret v.]
= water-ret v. So ˈwater-rotted ppl. a., ˈwater-rotting vbl. n.; hence ˈwater-rot n.
| 1705 Boston News-Let. 30 July 2/2 For Hemp Water rotted,..per Ton,..Six Pounds. 1759 Newport (Rhode Island) Mercury 8 May 1/2 Some prefer Water-rotting [for flax]. 1838 H. Colman 1st Rep. Agric. Mass. (Mass. Agric. Survey) 72 The superintendent states that the water-rotted flax of Scotland is much superior to ours, which is dew-rotted. 1843 Amer. Pioneer II. 450 The manner of making ropes of linn bark, was to cut the bark in strips..and water-rot it in the same manner as rotting flax or hemp. 1848 Rep. U.S. Comm. Patents 1847 246 It is of great importance in raising flax..that the water rot and dew rot must be used together to produce a fine white fibre. 1883 R. L. Allen New Amer. Farm Bk. (rev. ed.) 252 The best plan for water rotting of hemp is in vats under cover, the water in which is kept at an equable temperature. |