bristol waters
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Mineral waters of Clifton, near Bristol, with a temperature not exceeding 74°; formerly celebrated in cases of pulmonary consumption. They are very rarely used now.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “bristol waters” mean?
Mineral waters of Clifton, near Bristol, with a temperature not exceeding 74°; formerly celebrated in cases of pulmonary consumption. They are very rarely used now.
Is “bristol waters” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.