bowse

[ bous, bouz ]

/ baʊs, baʊz /

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

bouse¹.

Words nearby bowse

bowman's root, bowman's space, bowpot, bowrider, bowsaw, bowse, bowser, bowser bag, bowser boat, bowshot, bowsie

Definition for bowse (2 of 4)

bowse²

[ booz, bouz ]

/ buz, baʊz /

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

bouse².

Definition for bowse (3 of 4)

bouse¹

or bowse

[ bous, bouz ]

/ baʊs, baʊz /

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

to haul with tackle.

Origin of bouse

First recorded in 1585–95; of uncertain origin

Definition for bowse (4 of 4)

bouse²

or bowse

[ booz, bouz ]

/ buz, baʊz /

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. 2020

Examples from the Web for bowse

Mrs. Bowse's boarders and his hall bedroom had helped him to retain some hold over actual existence.
T. Tembarom|Frances Hodgson Burnett
He returned to Mrs. Bowse's boarding-house so late that night that even Steinberger and Bowles had ended their day.
T. Tembarom|Frances Hodgson Burnett
Mr. Mate, he cried, get all hands on to the main-topsl halliards and bowse the sail stiff up and down.
Devil Stories|Various
“Your uncle is safe on board the Ione, and our good friend Bowse is one of the companions of my adventure,” replied Fleetwood.
The Pirate of the Mediterranean|W.H.G. Kingston

"She's just a wonder," Mrs. Bowse and her boarders had said.
T. Tembarom|Frances Hodgson Burnett

British Dictionary definitions for bowse (1 of 2)

bowse

/ (baʊz) /

verb

a variant spelling of bouse

British Dictionary definitions for bowse (2 of 2)

bouse

bowse

/ (baʊz) /

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