mosey
Americanverb (used without object)
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to wander or shuffle about leisurely; stroll; saunter (often followed by along, about, etc.).
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to leave quickly; decamp.
verb
Etymology
Origin of mosey
An Americanism dating back to 1820–30; origin uncertain
Explanation
When you mosey, you stroll along in no particular hurry. You might mosey down the street to the town pool on a hot summer day. People mosey when they're in no rush to get where they're going. You're more likely to mosey over to the book store on a Saturday than you are to mosey to work when you're running late. The verb mosey is early-1800s American slang with an uncertain origin. Some experts think it comes from the British slang mose, "to go about in a dull, stupid way," while others see a connection to the Spanish vamos, or "let us go."
Vocabulary lists containing mosey
Bunnicula
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The Color of Water
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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Cows may mosey into their barns for bedtime.
From New York Times • Apr. 4, 2024
Yes, we hate it, yes we love it, and yes, as is our habit, we let time mosey on by as we futz around over what to do.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2024
There are already plenty of places in the capital where a mosey around merely needs a mouse.
From BBC • Nov. 8, 2023
The college football season brings out devoted Jackson State fans who watch away games on the bistro’s flat-screen TVs or mosey over from the stadium after home games.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 4, 2022
“Well, folks,” said Grandpa, taking aholt of her elbow, “I reckon we best mosey on home now. Hit’s been a long fancy day.”
From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns
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.
