Meanings
- humorousAu revoir.
“Adieu-au reservoir” (as an ambitious artist once remarked)
1855, A Month at Malvern under the Water-cure. With the sequel, etc. Third edition. Reconsidered, rewritten2 more examples
"Let her go, Gallagher. I've got everything on skids, even the presses. Au revoir—or perhaps one should say, Au reservoir."
1914, Francis Lynde, The City of Numbered Days, Scribner's, page 330They could be heard shouting jocosely to one another across the street: "Bon sewer, monsewer!" "Au reservoir!" Jack thought.
1917, McClure's Magazine ..., volume 50, S. S. McClure, Limited
Origin
Humorous alteration of au revoir after reservoir.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
au reservoir. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/au%20reservoir
“au reservoir.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/au%20reservoir. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “au reservoir,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/au%20reservoir.
Source: au reservoir on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.