from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Water line \Wa"ter line`\
1. (Shipbuilding) Any one of certain lines of a vessel,
model, or plan, parallel with the surface of the water at
various heights from the keel.
[1913 Webster]
Note: In a half-breadth plan, the water lines are outward
curves showing the horizontal form of the ship at their
several heights; in a sheer plan, they are projected as
straight horizontal lines.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Naut.) Any one of several lines marked upon the outside
of a vessel, corresponding with the surface of the water
when she is afloat on an even keel. The lowest line
indicates the vessel's proper submergence when not loaded,
and is called the {light water line}; the highest, called
the {load water line}, indicates her proper submergence
when loaded.
[1913 Webster]
{Water-line model} (Shipbuilding), a model of a vessel formed
of boards which are shaped according to the water lines as
shown in the plans and laid upon each other to form a
solid model.
[1913 Webster]