souse

¹ American  

[sous] / saʊs /

verb (used with object)

soused, sousing

1. to plunge into water or other liquid; immerse.

2. to drench, as with water.

   Synonyms:

   wet, waterlog, soak, saturate, douse

3. to dash or pour, as water.

4. to steep in pickling brine; pickle.

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verb (used without object)

soused, sousing

1. to plunge into water or other liquid.

2. to be soaked or drenched.

3. to be steeping or soaking in something.

noun

1. an act of sousing.

2. something kept or steeped in pickle, especially the head, ears, and feet of a pig.

3. a liquid used as a pickle.

4. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. a habitual drinker of alcohol who is frequently intoxicated.

souse ² American  

[sous] / saʊs /

verb (used without object)

soused, sousing

1. to swoop down.

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verb (used with object)

soused, sousing

1. to swoop or pounce upon.

noun

Falconry.

1. a rising while in flight.

2. a swooping or pouncing.

souse ¹ British  

/ saʊs /

verb

1. to plunge (something, oneself, etc) into water or other liquid

2. to drench or be drenched

3. (tr) to pour or dash (liquid) over (a person or thing)

4. to steep or cook (food) in a marinade

5. slang (tr; usually passive) to make drunk

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noun

1. the liquid or brine used in pickling

2. the act or process of sousing

3. slang a habitual drunkard

souse ² British  

/ saʊs /

verb

1. to swoop suddenly downwards (on a prey)

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noun

1. a sudden downward swoop

Etymology

Origin of souse¹

First recorded 1350–1400 and in 1915–20 souse ¹ for def. 11; Middle English noun souce, sows, from Old French souz, sous, souce “pickled (meat),” from Germanic (akin to salt ¹ ); the verb is derivative of the noun

Origin of souse²

First recorded in 1350–1400; by-form of source in its earlier literal sense “rising”

Example Sentences

The briny taste of her souse, pickled pigs’ feet served in an acidic brine, recalled the salty waves.

From New York Times

“I suggest souse,” remarked George, who had been listening to the conversation from across the room.

From Literature

Specialty products include beef hot dogs, cocktail sausages and hot or mild souse under the Magnolia brand.

From Washington Times

There was also the more popular, and often overlooked, dimension of Roget’s work: his was a new kind of lexicon that acknowledged colloquialisms and – horrors – slang, for example, “wassail”, “swig”, “soak”, “souse”, “booze”, and “guzzle”.

From The Guardian

Held at the Historic Garrison Savannah, tickets are $10 Barbadian and there are plenty of food stalls selling traditional rice and peas, pudding and souse and fried fish, as well as cold beers.

From The Guardian