OriginFrom Middle English bousen, from Middle Dutch būsen, buisen, buysen (“to drink heavily”) (Dutch buizen). Related to Middle High German būsen (“to swell, inblow”). More at beer.
- archaicTo drink excessively and socially; to carouse.
“O generous food!
Drest as though bold Robin Hood,
Would, with his maid Marian,
Sup and bowse from horn and can.”
- To haul or hoist (something) with a tackle.
- A carouse; a drinking bout; a booze.
Formsbowses(present, singular, third-person) · bowsing(participle, present) · bowsed(participle, past) · bowsed(past) · bouse(alternative) · bowses(plural)
Source: Wiktionary