DOUSE Meaning of DOUSE in English v.tr. (also dowse) 1. a throw water over. b plunge into water. 2 extinguish (a light). 3 Naut. a lower (a sail). b close (a porthole). Etymology: 16th c.: perh. rel. to MDu., LG dossen strike Oxford English vocab. Оксфордский английский словарь. 2012