bouse

¹ American  

[booz, bouz] / buz, baʊz /

Or bowse

noun

1. liquor or drink.

2. a drinking bout; carouse.

---

verb (used with or without object)

boused, bousing

1. to drink, especially to excess.

bouse ² American  

[bous, bouz] / baʊs, baʊz /

Or bowse

verb (used with object)

Nautical.

boused, bousing

1. to haul with tackle.

---

bouse British  

/ baʊz /

verb

1. (tr) nautical to raise or haul with a tackle

---

Etymology

Origin of bouse¹

1250–1300; Middle English bous strong drink < Middle Dutch būsen drink to excess; booze

Origin of bouse¹

First recorded in 1585–95; of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

A bacon bouse of two-score ribs, A wattling of tripe—support of clans— Of every food pleasant to man, Meseemed the whole was gathered there.

From Literature

I was an innkeeper, who lov'd to bouse, J was a joiner, and built up a house.

From Project Gutenberg

I saw them running, like mice, up the shrouds, as they boused up the mainsail, and heard them chaunt a cheering chorus, as they heaved in the slack of the cable.

From Project Gutenberg

“Belay that, and bouse away, old ship, with that yarn o’ yours that’s going to fright my hair off.

From Project Gutenberg

The joint resolution of the two bouses prescribed the mode in which the tellers were to make the count and also required him to declare the result, which he did.

From Project Gutenberg