douse

views updated May 23 2018

douse / dous/ (also dowse) • v. [tr.] pour a liquid over; drench: he doused the car with gasoline and set it on fire. ∎  extinguish (a fire or light): stewards appeared and the fire was doused | fig. nothing could douse her sudden euphoria. ∎  Sailing lower (a sail) quickly.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

douse

views updated May 29 2018

douse 1, dowse †strike XVI; strike (sail) XVII; doff; extinguish XVIII. perh. rel. to MDu., LG. dossen, G. dial. dusen beat, strike.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

douse

views updated May 11 2018

douse 2 †plunge in liquid; drench. XVI. prob. imit., but poss. identical with prec.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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