water-thief

noun

A thief or robber on the water, hence, a pirate.

OriginAncient Greek κλεψύδρα →
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Meanings

water-thief1

nounwater-thief (plural water-thieves)

plural water-thieves

  1. archaicrareA thief or robber on the water, hence, a pirate.

water-thief2

nounwater-thief (plural water-thieves)

plural water-thieves · alternative waterthief

  1. A valve with multiple connections that permits bleeding a large line through several subordinate lines.

Origin

water-thief · noun

From water + thief.

Full word history & related roots →

water-thief · noun

  1. Ancient Greekκλεψύδρα“pipette”
  2. Englishwater-thief

Calque of Ancient Greek κλεψύδρα (klepsúdra, “pipette”, literally “water-thief”), equivalent to water + thief.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

water-thief. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/water-thief

MLA

“water-thief.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/water-thief. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “water-thief,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/water-thief.

Source: water-thief on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.