douse

== English == === Pronunciation === enPR: daus, IPA(key): /daʊs/ Rhymes: -aʊs === Etymology 1 === Probably of North Germanic origin, related to Swedish dunsa (“to plumb down, fall clumsily”), Danish dunse (“to thump”). Compare Old English dwǣsċan (“to extinguish”) and douse below. ==== Alternative forms ==== dowse, douze, douce, dause (all obsolete or nonstandard) ==== Verb ==== douse (third-person singular simple present douses, present participle dousing, simple past and past participle doused) (ambitransitive) To plunge suddenly into water; to duck; to immerse. (intransitive) To fall suddenly into water. (transitive) To put out; to extinguish. ===== Coordinate terms ===== hose down ===== Derived terms ===== douser ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== douse (plural douses) A sudden plunging into water. === Etymology 2 === From Middle English duschen, dusshen (“to rush, fall”), related to Norwegian dusa (“to break, cast down from”), Old Dutch doesen (“to beat, strike”), dialectal German tusen, dusen (“to strike, run against, collide”), Saterland Frisian dössen (“to strike”). Compare doss, dust. ==== Alternative forms ==== dowse ==== Verb ==== douse (third-person singular simple present douses, present participle dousing, simple past and past participle doused) (transitive) To strike, beat, or thrash. (transitive, nautical) To strike or lower in haste; to slacken suddenly ===== Derived terms ===== dousing-chock ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== douse (plural douses) A blow or strike, especially to the face. === Anagrams === oused == Middle English == === Noun === douse alternative form of douce