water haul

noun

: a fruitless effort

Word History

Etymology

from the figure of a fishing net that catches nothing but water

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of water haul was in 1823

Dictionary Entries Near water haul

Cite this Entry

“Water haul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20haul. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!