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Water-gall

.

The dark rim round the eyes after much weeping. A peculiar appearance in a rainbow which indicates more rain at hand. “Gall” is the Anglo-Saxon gealew (yellow).

“And round about her tear-distainëd eye

Blue circles streamed, like rainbows in the sky;

These watergalls … foretell new storms.”


Shakespeare: Rape of Lucrece.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Wassailers
Wastlers
Wat
Wat’s Dyke (Flintshire)
Watch Night
Watch on Board Ship
Watchet
Water
Water
Water
Water-gall
Water-hole
Water-logged
Water-Poet
Water-sky (A)
Water Stock (To)
Water of Jealousy (The)
Water Tasting like Wine
Waters (Sanitary)
Waterloo Cup (The)
Waterworks (The)