v. & n.
v. 1 tr. put (gherkins, fish, etc.) in pickle. 2 tr. & intr. plunge into liquid. 3 tr. (as soused adj.) colloq. drunk. 4 tr. (usu. foll. by in) soak (a thing) in liquid. 5 tr. (usu. foll. by over) throw (liquid) over a thing.
n. 1 a pickle made with salt. b US food, esp. a pig's head etc., in pickle. 2 a dip, plunge, or drenching in water. 3 colloq. a a drinking-bout. b a drunkard.
[ ME f. OF sous, souz pickle f. OS sultia, OHG sulza brine f. Gmc: cf. SALT ]