• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Language / What does the expression “on the water cart” (or wagon) mean and Where does it come from?

What does the expression “on the water cart” (or wagon) mean and Where does it come from?

May 9, 2020 by Karen Hill

The watering or sprinkling cart was a much more familiar vehicle on our dusty American streets a few decades ago than it is today.

In fact, nowadays one sees only a motorized version of it cooling hot paved city streets in midsummer.

But from the use of this former vehicle in slaking the dust of the roads, those of our forebears, troubled with dusty throats but seeking to avoid strong drink, spoke of climbing aboard the water cart.

The expression arose during the heyday of the Prohibition movement, in the 1890’s.

The earliest record cited in The Dictionary of Americanisms is that appearing in Alice Caldwell Rice’s Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (1901).

Mrs. Wiggs, speaking of Mr. Dick, who is “consumpted,” said: “He coughs all the time, jes’ like Mr. Wiggs done.

Other day he had a orful spell while I was there. I wanted to git him some whisky, but he shuck his head, ‘I’m on the water-cart,’ sez he.”

Related Facts

  • When Was the "Station Wagon" Invented, How Did it Get its Name, and What Did it Mean Originally?
  • How fast could covered wagon trains travel in the old West?
  • How dangerous were the Indians to wagon trains crossing the plains in the American Old West?
  • Where does the expression "till the cows come home" come from and What does it mean?
  • Where does the expression "to come out flat footed" come from and What does it mean?
  • Where does the expression "to come out at the little end of the horn" come from and What does it mean?
  • Where does the expression "come off your perch" come from and What does it mean?
  • What does the expression "to get one's come uppance" mean and Where does it come from?
  • Where does the expression "to be ahead of the game" come from and What does to come out ahead mean?
  • What Does the Expression "Until the Cows Come Home" Mean and Where Did the Phrase Come From?
  • Where does the expression "Darby and Joan" come from and What does Darby and Joan mean?
  • Where does the phrase "to rain cats and dogs" come from and What does the expression mean?

Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « What does the phrase “to bite the dust” mean and Where does it come from?
Next Post: Where does the phrase “to swear like a trooper” come from and What does it mean? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2021 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy