corpses floating in water; waterlogged dead bodies
Poetic term for dead bodies submerged or floating in water, especially in the context of war or naval battles. Evokes a classical, literary tone.
After the naval battle, waterlogged corpses drifted among the waves.
It is said that even now, waterlogged bodies lie sunken off the coast of the ancient battlefield.
Specifically a body of someone who died by drowning; 水漬く屍 does not necessarily imply drowning as the cause of death.
Standard kanji spelling; 水漬く is a classical verb form meaning 'to be soaked in water'.
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; 屍 is sometimes written as かばね for readability.
Compound of 水漬く (mizuku, classical verb meaning 'to be soaked in water') + 屍 (kabane, 'corpse'). The reading みづく is a historical kana usage (historical づ for modern ず).