from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Water color \Wa"ter col`or\ (Paint.)
1. A color ground with water and gum or other glutinous
medium; a color the vehicle of which is water; -- so
called in distinction from {oil color}.
[1913 Webster]
Note: It preserves its consistency when dried in a solid
cake, which is used by rubbing off a portion on a
moistened palette. Moist water colors are water colors
kept in a semifluid or pasty state in little metal
tubes or pans.
[1913 Webster]
2. A picture painted with such colors.
[1913 Webster]