bowse

[bous, bouz]

verb (used with object), bowsed, bows·ing. Nautical.

bouse¹.

bowse

[booz, bouz]

noun, verb (used with or without object), bowsed, bows·ing.

bouse².

bouse

or bowse

[bous, bouz]

verb (used with object), boused, bous·ing. Nautical.

to haul with tackle.

Origin of bouse

First recorded in 1585–95; of uncertain origin

bouse

or bowse

[booz, bouz]

noun

liquor or drink.
a drinking bout; carouse.

verb (used with or without object), boused, bous·ing.

to drink, especially to excess.

Origin of bouse

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for bowse

Historical Examples of bowse

“I see something which has a sail, though,” exclaimed Bowse.
The Pirate of the Mediterranean
W.H.G. Kingston
“I would rather we could catch her again with a few of them in her,” observed Bowse.
The Pirate of the Mediterranean
W.H.G. Kingston
“And you,” said Zappa, in the same patois, turning to Bowse.
The Pirate of the Mediterranean
W.H.G. Kingston
Bowse repeated the question, in the lingua Franca of those seas.
The Pirate of the Mediterranean
W.H.G. Kingston
“No, miss, the cold—the night air may do you harm,” rejoined Bowse.
The Pirate of the Mediterranean
W.H.G. Kingston

British Dictionary definitions for bowse

bowse

verb

a variant spelling of bouse

bouse

bowse

verb

(tr) nautical to raise or haul with a tackle

Word Origin for bouse

C16: of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012