dowse

¹ American  

[dous] / daʊs /

verb (used with or without object)

dowsed, dowsing

1. douse.

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dowse ² American  

[douz] / daʊz /

verb (used without object)

dowsed, dowsing

1. to search for underground supplies of water, metal, etc., by the use of a divining rod.

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verb (used with object)

dowsed, dowsing

1. to search for (as water) by or as if by dowsing.

dowse ¹ British  

/ daʊs /

verb

1. a variant spelling of douse 1

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dowse ² British  

/ daʊz /

verb

1. (intr) to search for underground water, minerals, etc, using a divining rod; divine

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Other Word Forms

• dowser noun

Etymology

Origin of dowse

First recorded in 1685–95; originally dialect (SW England); origin obscure

Example Sentences

The dowsing rods are handed to Grace who, like David, has been trying them for the first time.

From BBC

In the 1990s Alistair Munro, who lives nearby, walked Mantle Walls several times with the dowsing rods he used for locating underground water sources.

From BBC

Model colonists must have come to California with dowsing rods packed in their trunks, because job one was always securing water.

From Los Angeles Times

Under its new management, Guinness World Records began dowsing new revenue streams to supplement its book sales.

From New York Times

He told me he didn’t understand the science behind dowsing, if there’s any at all, but he knew it worked.

From Los Angeles Times