douche

American  

[doosh] / duʃ /

noun

1. a jet or current of water, sometimes with a dissolved medicating or cleansing agent, applied to a body part, organ, or cavity for medicinal or hygienic purposes.

2. the application of such a jet.

3. an instrument, as a syringe, for administering it.

4. a bath administered by such a jet.

5. Slang: Vulgar. douchebag.

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verb (used with object)

douched, douching

1. to apply a douche to.

verb (used without object)

douched, douching

1. to use a douche or douches; undergo douching.

douche British  

/ duːʃ /

noun

1. a stream of water or air directed onto the body surface or into a body cavity, for cleansing or medical purposes

2. the application of such a stream of water or air

3. an instrument, such as a special syringe, for applying a douche

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verb

1. to cleanse or treat or be cleansed or treated by means of a douche

Other Word Forms

• undouched adjective

Etymology

Origin of douche

First recorded in 1675–85; from French, from Italian doccia “water pipe,” back formation from doccione “drainpipe” (where -one was interpreted as an augmentative suffix), from Latin ductiōn- (stem of ductiō ) “drawing off, conveying (water),” equivalent to duct(us), past participle of dūcere “to draw along” + -iōn- noun suffix; ductile, -ion

Related Words

• douse
• imbue
• immerse
• impregnate
• infuse
• penetrate
• permeate
• pervade
• soak
• steep
• suffuse
• wash