bowse

English

Alternative forms

• bouse

Etymology 1

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

bowse (third-person singular simple present bowses, present participle bowsing, simple past and past participle bowsed)

1. (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

bowse (plural bowses)

1. A carouse; a drinking bout; a booze.

Derived terms

• bene bowse
• booze

Etymology 2

Origin unknown.

Verb

bowse (third-person singular simple present bowses, present participle bowsing, simple past and past participle bowsed)

1. (nautical) To haul or hoist (something) with a tackle.

Anagrams

• Bowes, besow, bowes