Modern English usage. 2014.
Dowse — Dowse, v. t. [Cf. 1st {Douse}.] 1. To plunge, or duck into water; to immerse; to douse. [1913 Webster] 2. [Cf. OD. doesen to strike, Norw. dusa to break.] To beat or thrash. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Dowse — Dowse, v. i. To use the dipping or divining rod, as in search of water, ore, etc. [1913 Webster] Adams had the reputation of having dowsed successfully for more than a hundred wells. Eng. Cyc. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Dowse — Dowse, n. A blow on the face. [Low] Colman. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
dowse — [ dauz ] verb intransitive 1. ) to search for water underground using a special stick that moves when you are near the right place 2. ) another spelling of douse ╾ dows|er noun count … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
dowse — 1690s, a south England dialect word, of uncertain origin, said to have been introduced to Devon by German miners in Elizabethan times … Etymology dictionary
dowse — [1] ► VERB ▪ search for underground water or minerals with a pointer which is supposedly moved by unseen influences. DERIVATIVES dowser noun. ORIGIN of unknown origin … English terms dictionary
dowse — dowse1 [dous] vt. dowsed, dowsing DOUSE1 dowse2 [douz] vi. dowsed, dowsing [< ?] to search for a source of water or minerals by walking about while holding a divining rod (dowsing rod) dowser n … English World dictionary
dowse — UK [daʊz] / US verb [intransitive] Word forms dowse : present tense I/you/we/they dowse he/she/it dowses present participle dowsing past tense dowsed past participle dowsed 1) to search for water underground using a special stick that moves when… … English dictionary
Dowse — This name derives from the Medieval English douce or dowse itself coming from the Olde French dolz later doux meaning sweet or pleasant , the name can also be spelt as Douch or Douche. Frequently used as a woman s name, it is first recorded as… … Surnames reference
dowse — Liverpool Slang lookout: Billy, keep dowse and hoot if anybody comes … English dialects glossary
