Waterside

noun WAA-ta-said ˈwaːtasaɪd

Also spelled waterside, wata-side, riverside

The edge of a river or stream where people gather — to wash clothes, bathe, fetch water, and cool off. In the days before piped water reached every home, the waterside was a hub of village life, especially for the women beating and spreading clothes on the rocks and catching up on news while the children swam. The word survives in many place names and in the memory of that communal life down by the water.

  • Di woman dem gone a di waterside fi wash.

    The women have gone to the riverside to wash.

  • Wi bathe a di waterside inna di evening.

    We bathe at the riverside in the evening.

  • Spread di clothes pon di rockstone a waterside.

    Spread the clothes on the rocks at the riverside.

From 'water' + 'side'; the riverside gathering place. See [[gully-bank]], [[morass]].

The riverside where people wash, bathe, and fetch water. See [[gully-bank]], [[morass]].