Salt water is first described as such in Old English and thus around since the 6th or 7th century. Whilst an American term, it is worth noting the term salt water taffy is seen only since 1886 and was only known as such as it was sold at seaside resorts, particularly Atlantic City.
Waterpipe is not recorded until 1400, and then applied to a conduit (thus not necessarily an enclosed pipe).
Water closet, more often abbreviated to simply WC, described a privy with a waste pipe where the privy was emptied by a flush of water. The term is first recorded in 1755.
Water ice, is a reference to the (usually) flavoured water in a frozen state – first recorded in 1818.
Waterlilies have only been described as such since the 1540s,
Waterski first appeared as a noun in 1931, not used as a verb for another 22 years.
Watertable, this used to describe the level of saturated ground, is first seen in 1879.
Water moccasin, a snake indigenous to the Southern United States, is first described as such in a document dated 1821.
Waterwheels have been recorded since the early 15th century, although the technology is much older.
Rosewater, a tincture or perfume, came to English from the Dutch in the late 14th century.
Watermarks, used to identify paper as genuine, first appears in 1708. Not until 1866 was it used as a term to say the paperwork had been spoiled.
Watergate began as a channel to carry water, principally for irrigation. Of course the Wategate scandal of 1972, it the name of the building housing the Democrats during the presidential election, has given the suffix ‘–gate’ to every scandal in the modern era.
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