Souse

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -aÊŠs

From Middle English souse ("to pickle, steep in vinegar") also a noun "liquid for pickling" and "pickled pig parts", from Old French sous ("preserved in salt and vinegar"), from Frankish *sultija ("saltwater, brine"), from Proto-Germanic *sultijō ("saltwater, brine"). Cognate with Old Saxon sultia ("saltwater"), Old High German sulza ("brine").

Full definition of souse

Noun

1. Something kept or steeped in brine
1. The pickled ears, feet, etc., of swine.
• unknown date TusserAnd he that can rear up a pig in his house,
  Hath cheaper his bacon, and sweeter his souse.
1. (US, Appalachian) Pickled scrapple.
2. (Caribbean) Pickled or boiled ears and feet of a pig
2. A pickle made with salt.
3. The ear; especially, a hog's ear.
4. The act of sousing; a plunging into water.
5. A person suffering from the disease of alcoholism.

Verb

1. To immerse in liquid; to steep or drench.
• unknown date AddisonThey soused me over head and ears in water.
• unknown date Gascoignealthough I be well soused in this shower
• 1913, D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers,As she heard him sousing heartily in cold water, heard the eager scratch of the steel comb on the side of the bowl, as he wetted his hair, she closed her eyes in disgust.

Derived terms

• soused

Obscure origin. Compare Middle German sûs (noise).

Noun

1. The act of sousing, or swooping.
• unknown date SpenserAs a falcon fair
  That once hath failed or her souse full near.
2. A heavy blow.
• 1596, Spencer, Fairie QueeneHis murdrous mace he vp did reare, That seemed nought the souse thereof could beare.

Verb

1. (now dialectal, transitive) to strike, beat
2. (now dialectal, intransitive) to fall heavily
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.4:Him so transfixed she before her bore
  Beyond his croupe, the length of all her launce;
  Till, sadly soucing on the sandy shore,
  He tombled on an heape, and wallowd in his gore.
• unknown date J. Dryden. Jr.Jove's bird will souse upon the tim'rous hare.
3. (obsolete, transitive) to pounce upon
• unknown date Shakespearegallant monarch like eagle o'er his serie towers,
  To souse annoyance that comes near his nest.

Borrowing from fro sous (plural of sout).

Noun