Wiktionary
n. An area of grassland, besides a river, that is subject to periodic flooding
Wikipedia
A water-meadow (also water meadow or watermeadow) is an area of grassland subject to controlled irrigation to increase agricultural productivity. Water-meadows were mainly used in Europe from the 16th to the early 20th centuries. Working water-meadows have now largely disappeared, but the field patterns and water channels of derelict water-meadows remain common in areas where they were used, such as parts of Northern Italy, Switzerland and England. Derelict water-meadows are often of importance as wetland wildlife habitats.
Water-meadows should not be confused with flood-meadows, which are naturally covered in shallow water by seasonal flooding from a river. "Water-meadow" is sometimes used more loosely to mean any level grassland beside a river.
Usage examples of "water-meadow".
Thus cried, thus called aloud, to the child heart The magian East: thus the child eyes Spelled out the wizard message by the light Of the sober, workaday hours They saw, week in week out, pass, and still pass In the sleepy Minster City, folded kind In ancient Severn's arm, Amongst her water-meadows and her docks, Whose floating populace of ships - Galliots and luggers, light-heeled brigantines, Bluff barques and rake-hell fore-and-afters--brought To her very doorsteps and geraniums The scents of the World's End.
Or sometimes 'tis a splendid collegiate church, untouched by restoring parson and architect, standing amid an island of shapely trees and flower-beset cottages of thatched grey stone and cob, amidst the narrow stretch of bright green water-meadows that wind between the sweeping Wiltshire downs, so well beloved of William Cobbett.
He looked up from the wide water-meadows, eastwards across the silvery pools the Severn had left in every dimple after the spring floods, across the broad main stream of the river with its faint, drifting wreaths of mist, to the black hog-back of the Long Mountain, indented in half a dozen places along its vast, forested flank by the seamed valleys where brooks flowed down to join the Severn.
Severn was hardly higher than its summer level yet, they splashed through it and threaded the silver pools in the water-meadows beyond.
Good grazing, water-meadows and woodland, and it’s been well tended, seemingly, for it’s valued higher now than ten years since.
Sometimes there below they caught glimpses of the full, soft-sliding Trent, and of water-meadows dotted with small cattle.