bouse
1 Americanverb (used with object)
noun
-
liquor or drink.
-
a drinking bout; carouse.
verb (used with or without object)
verb
Etymology
Origin of bouse1
First recorded in 1585–95; of uncertain origin
Origin of bouse2
1250–1300; Middle English bous strong drink < Middle Dutch būsen drink to excess; cf. booze
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Just a month ago, he’d noticed he was missing money and lectured Cheryl: Stop bringing your friends into my bouse if they’re going to be stealing my stuff!
From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore
![]()
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 "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
![]()
Then the Van Grolls, of Antony's Nose, who carried their liquor in fair round little pottles, by reason they could not bouse it out of their canteens, having such rare long noses.
From Knickerbocker's History of New York, Complete by Irving, Washington
Why, hast thou any lowre in thy bonge to bouse?
From The Rogues and Vagabonds of Shakespeare's Youth Awdeley's 'Fraternitye of vacabondes' and Harman's 'Caveat' by Awdeley, John
This bouse is as benshyp as rome bouse.
From Microcosmography or, a Piece of the World Discovered; in Essays and Characters by Earle, John
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.