Douse

Pronunciation

• enPR: daus, IPA: /daÊŠs/
• Rhymes: -aÊŠs

Probably of origin, related to Swedish dunsa ("to plumb down, fall clumsily"), Danish dunse ("to thump"). Compare Old English dwǣscan ("to extinguish") and douse below.

Alternative forms

• dowse, douze, douce, dause

Full definition of douse

Verb

1. (ambitransitive) To plunge suddenly into water; to duck; to immerse.
2. (intransitive) To fall suddenly into water.
3. (transitive) To put out; to extinguish.

From Middle English duschen, dusshen ("to rush, fall"), related to Norwegian dusa ("to break, cast down from"), Old Dutch doesen ("to beat, strike"), German dialectal tusen, dusen ("to strike, run against, collide"), Eastern Frisian dössen ("to strike"). Compare doss, dust.

Verb

1. (transitive) To strike.
2. (transitive, nautical) To strike or lower in haste; to slacken suddenly; as, douse the topsail.

Noun

1. A blow; stroke.

Anagrams

• oused