water trough

English

Alternative forms

• water-trough, watertrough

Etymology

From Middle English water trouȝ, equivalent to water +‎ trough. Cognate with West Frisian wettertroch (“water trough”), Dutch watertrog (“water trough”), German Wassertrog (“water trough”), Danish vandtrug (“water trough”), Swedish vattentrog (“water trough”).

Noun

water trough (plural water troughs)

1. (rail transport, UK) a long trough placed between the rails in a railway track, which enabled a steam locomotive to replenish its water supply without stopping by lowering a scoop. They were removed at the end of steam train operation.

Usage notes

Not to be confused with a watering trough for animals. See the image at trough.

Synonyms

• track pan (US)