Meaning of water-witch | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A grebe
2. A grebe:
3. In particular, the pied-billed grebe.
4. The storm petrel.
   UK, dialectal
5. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: a witch who lives in, controls, is able to dowse or find, or is otherwise connected with, water.

Examples

“... bird was never seen again, dead or alive. There was a mystery about it , and when some one older and wiser than he told him it was a water witch or hell diver, the mystery was only half solved. Where did it go? How could it stay⟳[…] Fortunately for the dabchick, […]”

“[…] I knew that another pair of Grebes had chosen this secluded pond for their home. Careful search⟳ revealed only a deserted or incompleted nest, and I continued until I came to a weedy stretch⟳. Examining it with binoculars, before entering, as it was quite open⟳, I espied another of these elusive water-witches upon its nest.”

“The grebes and loons are not edible, […] nevertheless, the bird is often hunted, although the sportsman finds it a wary victim, for there is no bird in the world more difficult to shoot⟳ than a "water-witch." One instant it will be swimming[…] It is amazing how long a grebe can remain⟳ submerged.”

“The Hell Diver seen was probably the Pied Bill Grebe, […] it surely is a water witch and has disappeared.”

“... Grebes are highly aquatic expert divers but labored fliers. […] a "water-witch" [Blanchan 1902: 12]. The Pied-billed Grebe is represented at CA-44.”

“... my first nest of a "water witch," the pied-billed grebe. What's a grebe? Scientists would like⟳ the answer⟳ to that one. There are at least 20 species of grebes found around the world. All are birds incredibly adapted to aquatic environments[…]”

“Ten or fifteen dark little birds […] these are "Mother Carey's chickens," the "water-witches," Stormy Petrels, which are so familiar to the eye of the sailor, and the sight of which he dreads so much; […]”

“[see⟳ chapter title, viz.:] Song of the Water-Witch (The Stormy-Petrel)”

“There is no doubt⟳ that the stormy petrel has learned to imitate the motion of the waves, flying with motions not unlike those of certain fish⟳. […] These strange little "water-witches" or Mother Carey's chickens are familiar to all sea-travellers.”

“[…] plays with the stormy petrel, / And answers the sea-gull's call⟳. […] the water-witch, gray and ancient, / And hearing the tales she tells.”

“The water-witches of Meterik inhabit the islands. There are fifteen of them. They argue⟳ all the time over minutiae. They throw⟳ magic spells at each other for fun. Normally they show⟳ not too much interest⟳ in humans. That changed[…]”

“"... even if he wanted to, he couldn't hold⟳ that rod steady." I smiled , remembering the water witches of my youth. They were mystical, mysterious people. Only one of them hit good clean⟳ water every time and plenty of it, and […]”

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