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
When the breech of the gun is above the port-sill, hook the garnet and the thwart-ship-tackle to the cascabel, and bowse on both.
From Ordnance Instructions for the United States Navy. 1866. Fourth edition. by United States. Navy Dept. Bureau of Ordnance
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)
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 Chesson, W. H.
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 Keats, John
When the decks were cleared, the guns bowsed out, Prince went below with Nat.
From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham
In bad weather it is kept hooked, bowsed taut, and the end expended through the ring-bolt and round the arms of the rear axle.
From Ordnance Instructions for the United States Navy. 1866. Fourth edition. by United States. Navy Dept. Bureau of Ordnance
“Not many fellows have been bowsed up in that fashion and cut down so speedily!”
From The White Squall A Story of the Sargasso Sea by Schonberg, J.
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
It soon became evident that the anchor had fairly begun to rise off the ground, for the buoy-rope, which at first had been bowsed taught over the stern of our launch, became quite slack.
From The Lieutenant and Commander Being Autobigraphical Sketches of His Own Career, from Fragments of Voyages and Travels by Hall, Basil
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
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
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
"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 Cooper, James Fenimore
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.
