douse
or dowse
[ dous ]
/ daʊs /
verb (used with object), doused, dous·ing.
verb (used without object), doused, dous·ing.
to plunge or be plunged into a liquid.
noun
British Dialect. a stroke or blow.
Nearby words
Origin of douse
First recorded in 1590–1600; origin uncertain
Can be confuseddouse dowse
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for douse
British Dictionary definitions for douse (1 of 2)
douse
1dowse
/ (daʊs) /
verb
to plunge or be plunged into water or some other liquid; duck
(tr) to drench with water, esp in order to wash or clean
(tr) to put out (a light, candle, etc)
noun
an immersion
Derived Formsdouser or dowser, noun
Word Origin for douse
C16: perhaps related to obsolete douse to strike, of obscure origin
British Dictionary definitions for douse (2 of 2)
douse
2/ (daʊs) /
verb (tr)
nautical to lower (sail) quickly
archaic to strike or beat
noun
archaic a blow
Word Origin for douse
C16: of uncertain origin; perhaps related to douse 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for douse
douse
1550s, "to strike, punch," which is perhaps from Middle Dutch dossen "beat forcefully" or a similar Low German word.
Meaning "to strike a sail in haste" is recorded from 1620s; that of "to extinguish (a light)" is from 1785; perhaps influenced by dout (1520s), an obsolete contraction of do out (cf. doff, don). OED regards the meaning "to plunge into water, to throw water over" (c.1600) as a separate word, of unknown origin, though admitting there may be a connection of some sort. Related: Doused; dousing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper