water wing

English

Alternative forms

• waterwing

Etymology

From water +‎ wing. Compare German Schwimmflügel (“water wing”, literally “swim-wing”).

Noun

water wing (plural water wings)

1. (architecture, archaic) One of two walls built on either side of the junction of a bridge with the bank of a river, to protect the abutment of the bridge and the bank from the action of the current.
2. (swimming) Synonym of armband (“one of a pair of inflatable plastic bands, normally worn on the upper arms, to help the wearer (often a child) float in water and learn to swim”)

   Synonyms: armfloat, (chiefly US, informal) floaty

Translations

one of two walls built on either side of the junction of a bridge with the bank of a river, to protect the abutment of the bridge and the bank from the action of the current

synonym of armband — see armband