I. ˈdüs, ˈdau̇s noun
also dowse ˈdau̇s
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
Britain : blow , stroke
II. transitive verb
also dowse ˈdau̇s
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1.
a. : to take in : lower , strike
douse a sail
douse a mast
b. : slacken
douse a rope
2. : to take off : doff
III. verb
also dowse ˈdau̇s, ˈdau̇z
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably from douse (II) (in obsolete sense “to smite”), after English souse to strike: souse to immerse
transitive verb
1. : to plunge into water : immerse
begin your washing by dousing curtains in clear water to remove surface dust — Mary B. Picken
2.
a.
(1) : to throw water on : drench
she leaned over the basin and began to douse her face with the cold water — W.V.T.Clark
the monsoon … douses the hillsides — Christopher Rand
(2) : to cover with water or another liquid
picking a little mess of red raspberries for her breakfast … she doused them good with cream — Jean Stafford
b. : throw
doused water at each other
: slosh
still use their native bathhouse … in which they douse water on a heated rock fireplace — American Guide Series: Minnesota
3. : to put out (as a light or fire) : extinguish
his wife doused the candle — S.H.Holbrook
intransitive verb
1. : to fall or become plunged into water
no jesting trivial matter to swing in the air or douse in water — Samuel Butler †1680
2. : to lie in water : bathe
I doused pleasantly in the cool fresh water for an hour or two every day — F.N.Souza
IV. noun
also dowse “
( -s )
: downpour , drenching
his voice came to the crew like a douse of ice water — T.O.Heggen