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Glite Dictionary
branch water

branch water

1 8.9
Water from a small stream that people add to make strong drinks weaker
  • noun
  • /bræntʃ ˈwɔːtər/
  • US
translation icon : agua de arroyo
  • I prefer my whiskey neat with just a splash of branch water to enhance the flavor.

Examples

  • He even made a point of mixing his cocktails with branch water.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Do you take cider or branch water, Lieutenant McIver?"

    Fiction book (1997)

  • They stood beside the man and looked at the swollen bull, branch water lapping against its belly, flies in clouds around its mouth and rear.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • "Can I get a gin and tonic with a little branch water?" she asked the bartender.

  • Many people enjoy their cocktails mixed with branch water instead of soda for a more natural taste.

Synonyms

spring water
vsbranch water
9 1.0

Water that comes from under the ground and is safe to drink

is from a surface stream or brook rather than an underground source
still water
vsbranch water
1 1.2

Water without bubbles that people drink from bottles

is from a stream or brook and defined by natural origin rather than carbonation
sweetwater
vsbranch water
2.7

Fresh water that is not salty, found in rivers and lakes

is taken specifically from a stream or brook rather than any surface water

Surface Forms

branch water singular
branch waters plural

Morphology

branch + water

The meaning is directly compositional: 'branch' (a small stream) + 'water' = water from a stream, so the overall sense is literally derivable from the constituents. This follows a common noun + noun naming pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the given senses will readily understand it.

Etymology

Branch water comes from the image of a small stream called a branch and the water that runs from it. People would add that fresh stream water to whiskey to 'make it less strong', so today the phrase means plain natural water from a brook used to dilute drinks.