douse

or dowse

[ dous ]

verb (used with object)

, doused, dous·ing.

1. to plunge into water or the like; drench:

   She doused the clothes in soapy water.

2. to splash or throw water or other liquid on:

   The children doused each other with the hose.

3. to extinguish:

   She quickly doused the candle's flame with her fingertips.

4. Informal. to remove; doff.
5. Nautical.
   1. to lower or take in (a sail, mast, or the like) suddenly.
   2. to slacken (a line) suddenly.
   3. to stow quickly.

verb (used without object)

, doused, dous·ing.

1. to plunge or be plunged into a liquid.

noun

1. British Dialect. a stroke or blow.

douse

¹

/ daʊs /

verb

1. to plunge or be plunged into water or some other liquid; duck
2. tr to drench with water, esp in order to wash or clean
3. tr to put out (a light, candle, etc)

noun

1. an immersion

douse

²

/ daʊs /

verb

1. nautical to lower (sail) quickly
2. archaic.
   to strike or beat

noun

1. archaic.
   a blow

Derived Forms

• ˈdouser, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of douse¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of douse¹

C16: perhaps related to obsolete douse to strike, of obscure origin

Origin of douse²

C16: of uncertain origin; perhaps related to douse ¹

Example Sentences

On one occasion he was shot in the hand, on another he suffered eye injuries after being doused in pepper spray.

From BBC

Fergison said she was dousing herself in scalding water daily as she tried to "wash" away the cancer cells.

From BBC

Amid explosions and darkened skies, the crew at Mountain High ski resort jumped into action, firing up a hundred snow cannons to douse the flames with water.

From Los Angeles Times

After the trophy presentation, Orange Lutheran players failed in the first attempt to douse coach Kristen Sherman with ice water but Cook found another bucket and Sherman willingly “took one for the team.”

From Los Angeles Times

The blaze was 17% contained by Saturday morning as crews were dousing mulch fires in agricultural land north of the 118 Freeway just a few miles east from the fire’s origin in the Somis neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deluge
• drown
• put out
• quench
• saturate
• smother
• snuff out
• soak
• splash
• submerge
• wet