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bowse

1 American  
[baus, bauz] / baʊs, baʊz /

verb (used with object)

Nautical.
bowsed, bowsing
  1. bouse.


bowse 2 American  
[booz, bauz] / buz, baʊz /

noun

bowsed, bowsing
  1. bouse.


bowse British  
/ baʊz /

verb

  1. a variant spelling of bouse

"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

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.

See Examples For:

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

Our spirits returned with having something to do; and when the tackle was manned to bowse the anchor home, notwithstanding the desolation of the scene, we struck up "Cheerily ho!" in full chorus.

From Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana

Now, sway away upon these here mizzen halliards; down with your fore-lug; ease up the fore-sheet there, for’ard; up with the mizzen, lads; bowse it well up; that’s well; belay.

From Under the Meteor Flag Log of a Midshipman during the French Revolutionary War by Harry Collingwood

Drest as though bold Robin Hood Would, with his Maid Marian, Sup and bowse from horn and can.

From The Golden Treasury Selected from the Best Songs and Lyrical Poems in the English Language and arranged with Notes by Various

Cruikshank knew all about Buzmen and Adam-tilers; the days when he drank bene bowse had not been wasted, if low life be worth depicting.

From George Cruikshank by W. H. Chesson

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

Double gaskets were passed round the yards, rolling tackles and other gear bowsed taught, and everything made as secure as could be.

From Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana

The English lieutenant, who was tolerably bowsed up, took his seat behind the cabin table, while the men came down, and stood in the companion-way passage, to be overhauled.

From Ned Myers or, a Life Before the Mast by James Fenimore Cooper

The trusses or parrels of the lower yards serve to bind them to their masts and are bowsed taut when the yards are trimmed, in order to arrest motion and friction.

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

"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

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

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

All hands is bowsing out their jibs on it, sir, and the old Hall will soon be carrying as much sail as she can stagger under.

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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