take water

verb5

1. •
   Of a vessel, to admit water through a leak or port or similar; to take in water.

   • It had taken Water, and the Powder was cak'd as hard as a Stone. — 1719
2. •
   To top up the water tanks.

   • The engines took water at Dingwall, the junction for the cross-country line to Kyle of Lochalsh, and again at Tain, 44 miles from Inverness. — 1950
3. •
   As a person or animal, to go into a body of water and start swimming.
4. •
   (US, informal) To run away; to back down.
5. •
   (no longer used) To travel in a vessel on a body of water; to embark on a ship.

   • I concealed my amour, as well as the effects of it, from his knowledge, and frequently took water from the Bridge, that my motions might not be discovered. — 1751