- a variation of bouse.
bowse
1 Americanverb (used with object)
noun
verb
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.
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A "cad" is a person fit for no other occupation than carrying somebody else's hawk; "booze" is a derivation of the falconer's "bowse," to drink.
From Time Magazine Archive
Drest as though bold Robin Hood Would, with his maid Marian, Sup and bowse from horn and can.
From English Verse Specimens Illustrating its Principles and History by Raymond MacDonald Alden
To pull or haul; as, to bowse upon a tack; to bowse away, i.e., to pull all together.
From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Noah Webster
When this was explained to Sir Samuel Hood, he ordered the people in the launch to bowse away at the buoy-rope.
From The Lieutenant and Commander Being Autobigraphical Sketches of His Own Career, from Fragments of Voyages and Travels by Basil Hall
O generous food Drest as though bold Robin Hood Would with his Maid Marian, Sup and bowse from horn and can.
From Letters of John Keats to His Family and Friends by John Keats
When the decks were cleared, the guns bowsed out, Prince went below with Nat.
From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham
These we bent on very carefully, with strong robands and seizings, and, making tackles fast to the clews, bowsed them down to the water-ways.
From Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana
The jib was hoisted and bowsed well up, then the backstays, and the topmast-stays were tautened.
From Ernest Bracebridge School Days by William I. Thomas
I shan't have very wide swing with Peters over me, but I'll see that the boys don't get abused when he's bowsed up his jib.
From Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott
The minnit we got the wind onto the starboard quarter we braced the main-yard sharp up with the port-braces and bowsed the weather ones as taut as a harp string.
From Stories by American Authors, Volume 9 by Various
Hauling upon a tack is called "bowsing upon a tack," and when they would have the men pull all together, they cry, "Bowse away."
From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Sir Edward Belcher
A purchase used in bowsing down the eyes of the lower rigging over the mast-heads; lifting objects from the hold; getting anchors over the side, &c.
From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Sir Edward Belcher
Place a tackle across the deck ready for bowsing the gun into its carriage through the port.
From Ordnance Instructions for the United States Navy. 1866. Fourth edition. by United States. Navy Dept. Bureau of Ordnance
"Oakes is bowsing out his jib with his brother baronet, as we sailors say, and I have hauled out of the line, without a signal."
From The Two Admirals by James Fenimore Cooper
The bars of the capstan are swifted, by passing a rope-swifter over all their ends, and bowsing it well taut.
From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Sir Edward Belcher
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