Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A fire hydrant.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An apparatus for drawing water directly from a main (particularly from a main in a street), consisting of a hollow cylinder provided with one or more nozles to which hose may be attached, or with a spout, or the like, and usually with a valve and pipe for the escape of the excess of water, in order to guard against freezing.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A discharge pipe with a valve and spout at which water may be drawn from the mains of waterworks; a water plug.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An outlet from a liquid/fluid main often consisting of an upright pipe with a valve attached from which fluid (e.g. water or fuel) can be tapped.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a discharge pipe with a valve and spout at which water may be drawn from the mains of waterworks
  • noun a faucet for drawing water from a pipe or cask

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

An irregular formation: hydr- + -ant.

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Examples

  • But to this day, "Puck," the 5-8, 210-pounder who was built like a fire hydrant, is remembered most for his big smile, down-to-earth relationship with the fans and love for the game.

    USATODAY.com - Celebration of glove 2001

  • He hit a fire hydrant, which isn't going to give, no matter how big a vehicle you have, and a tree.

    CNN Transcript Nov 27, 2009 2009

  • In the canine world, a hydrant is a hydrant is a hydrant.

    Is this like painting the roses red? | Seattle Metblogs 2005

  • In his right hand he grasps a hose pipe, the end of which rests on the top of an imitation hydrant, which is placed on the top of the shield at his side.

    Home Pastimes; or Tableaux Vivants James H. Head

  • The hydrant was the only water supply for the six hundred people whose houses touched the alley.

    The Man in Gray Thomas Dixon 1905

  • In India, like in many Asian countries, for plugging in the fire hose into the landing valve (or also called hydrant) we use instantaneous couplings.

    unknown title K. Muthukrishnan 2009

  • Stoughton Police Department Executive Officer Robert Devine said the company did not seek permission from the town DPW to use the fire hydrant, which is required under bylaws.

    The Enterprise Home RSS 2008

  • Since August, the list has seen the antedating of "hydrant" pushed back to 1801 from 1828, "hobo" to September 1888 (from only a month later), and "jamboree" (meaning "a large party") to 1858, back from 1861.

    Archive 2007-10-01 2007

  • Since August, the list has seen the antedating of "hydrant" pushed back to 1801 from 1828, "hobo" to September 1888 (from only a month later), and "jamboree" (meaning "a large party") to 1858, back from 1861.

    'Hobo' a Month Older Than Thought 2007

  • It consisted, as I have mentioned, in the combined pushing and pulling of a curiously primitive two-wheeled cart over a distance of perhaps three hundred yards to a kind of hydrant situated in a species of square upon which the mediaeval structure known as Porte (or Camp) de Triage faced stupidly and threateningly.

    The Enormous Room 1928

Comments

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  • "...The extraordinary thing about dogs afloat is that they exhibit a curious reticence to perform their bodily functions, no doubt confused by the alien surroundings and the total absence of familiar smells. It was not just scatological chic that saw installation on both the Normandie and the United States of a bogus hydrant in the midst of their elegant kennels. Helen Hayes' new poodle made an early wartime crossing on the Champlain and the dog's bowels became a matter of shipwide distraction. It wasn't until several days had passed that the concerned gallery that assembled for each exercise period had their vigilance rewarded." (John Maxstone-Graham, The Only Way to Cross, NY: Macmillan, 1972, p. 332)

    November 30, 2007

  • I must be reading all the wrong books.

    November 30, 2007

  • chained_bear notes that you might also like: horse storm.

    November 30, 2007

  • Thanks for the note--duly noted. :-) I do like the phrase, but I feel sorry for the horses!

    November 30, 2007