bowse
English
editAlternative forms
editEtymology 1
editFrom 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
editbowse (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
editbowse (plural bowses)
- A carouse; a drinking bout; a booze.
Derived terms
editEtymology 2
editOrigin unknown.
Verb
editbowse (third-person singular simple present bowses, present participle bowsing, simple past and past participle bowsed)