bowse
1 Americanverb (used with object)
noun
verb
Example Sentences
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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
O 'tis bien bowse, 'tis bien bowse, Too little is my skew.
From Our Admirable Betty A Romance by Farnol, Jeffery
A gun-tackle purchase applied to the ends of the truss-pendants, to bowse them taut home to the mast.
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 Belcher, Edward, Sir
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 Dana, Richard Henry
Just bowse it up to wind’ard as far as it will go, and let us see what it will do.”
From The Log of a Privateersman by Rainey, W. (William)
When the decks were cleared, the guns bowsed out, Prince went below with Nat.
From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham
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
A tackle was then put on the bow, which was bowsed down until the boat could be dragged straight ahead.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 648, June 2, 1888. by Various
The jib was hoisted and bowsed well up, then the backstays, and the topmast-stays were tautened.
From Ernest Bracebridge School Days by Thomas, William I.
At the top of each post, itself a portion of solid spar, a watch-tackle was lashed, by means of which the sail was bowsed up to its place.
From The Crater by Cooper, James Fenimore
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 Cooper, James Fenimore
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 Belcher, Edward, Sir
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
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 Belcher, Edward, Sir
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 Belcher, Edward, Sir
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.
