bowse
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology 1 edit
From Middle English bousen, from Middle Dutch būsen, buisen, buysen (“to drink heavily”) (Dutch buizen). Related to Middle High German būsen (“to swell, inblow”). More at beer.
Verb edit
bowse (third-person singular simple present bowses, present participle bowsing, simple past and past participle bowsed)
- (archaic) To drink excessively and socially; to carouse.
- 1820, John Keats, “Lines on the Mermaid Tavern”, in Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC, page 131:
- O generous food!
Drest as though bold Robin Hood,
Would, with his maid Marian,
Sup and bowse from horn and can.
Noun edit
bowse (plural bowses)
- A carouse; a drinking bout; a booze.
Derived terms edit
Etymology 2 edit
Origin unknown.
Verb edit
bowse (third-person singular simple present bowses, present participle bowsing, simple past and past participle bowsed)