water offered to sumo wrestlers before a bout
Sumo term: fresh water given to wrestlers just before a match. Not used in everyday contexts.
Sumo wrestlers rinse their mouths with the water offered just before entering the ring.
fresh water for washing the face; water used in traditional makeup preparation
Historical term for clean water used when applying makeup or washing the face. In modern Japanese, 化粧水 usually refers to 'toner' or 'lotion', but this older sense is preserved in some contexts.
In the old days, people washed their faces with fresh water before applying white powder.
Compound of 化粧 (keshō, 'makeup') + 水 (mizu, 'water'). The sumo sense is a specialized extension of the literal meaning.