Etymology From Middle English waterfal, waterfalle, from Old English wæterġefeall (“waterfall”), equivalent to water + fall. Cognate with West Frisian wetterfal (“waterfall”), Dutch waterval (“waterfall”), German Wasserfall (“waterfall”), Swedish vattenfall (“waterfall”).
Hello, my love, I heard a kiss from you / Red magic satin playing near too / All through the morning rain I gaze, the sun doesn't shine / Rainbows and waterfalls run through my mind1977, Brothers Johnson, “Strawberry Letter 23”, in Right on Time:
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Figuratively A waterfall-like outpouring of liquid, smoke, etc.
I found home a dreary place after my long absence; for half the children I had known were now wearing whiskers or waterfalls, […]1870–1871 (date written), Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], “”, in Roughing It, Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company [et al.], published 1872, →OCLC, pages 569–570:
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Gymnastics, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports A kind of handstand with chin tucked and back arched.
Etymology From Middle English waterfal, waterfalle, from Old English wæterġefeall (“waterfall”), equivalent to water + fall. Cognate with West Frisian wetterfal (“waterfall”), Dutch waterval (“waterfall”), German Wasserfall (“waterfall”), Swedish vattenfall (“waterfall”).
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To fall like a waterfall.
Rain ran off the bill of his fielder's cap and waterfalled in front of his face.1994, Nora Roberts, Private Scandals, page 54:
Zondra, whose dirty-blond hair waterfalled above her head from a colorful tie, gave a snorting, horsey kind of laugh.1999, Jane Yolen with Bruce Coville, Armageddon Summer, page 79:
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they turned into the drive of The Manor with its red-brick front and the wonderful cloak of Virginia creeper waterfalling down between the windows.2008, John Gardner, No Human Enemy, page 156:
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To drink (something) from a container by pouring it from a height so as not to touch one's lips to the rim.