Water Man

English

Etymology

Calque of Latin Aquarius. Compare Dutch Waterman, German Wassermann, Swedish Vattumannen.

Proper noun

the Water Man

  1. (astronomy, astrology, obsolete) The constellation and zodiacal sign Aquarius.
    • 1903, Emmeline M. Plunket, Ancient Calendars and Constellations, London: John Murray, page 44:
      In the Water-man there is no star above the third.
    • 1953, B. L. van der Waerden, “History of the Zodiac”, in Archiv für Orientforschung, volume 16, page 226:
      Also in the case of Aquarius we ignore the extact signification of the Babylonian name GU.LA, but we have old Babylonian representations of a water-pouring god analygous to the waterman of Dendera (figs. 8 and 9).
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