fossick

[ fos-ik ]

verb (used without object)

1. Mining. to undermine another's digging; search for waste gold in relinquished workings, washing places, etc.
2. to search for any object by which to make gain:

   to fossick for clients.

verb (used with object)

1. to hunt; seek; ferret out.

fossick

/ ˈfɒsɪk /

verb

1. intr to search for gold or precious stones in abandoned workings, rivers, etc
2. to rummage or search for (something)

Derived Forms

• ˈfossicker, noun

Other Words From

• fossick·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fossick¹

First recorded in 1850–55; origin uncertain; compare British dialect fossick “troublesome person,” fussick, fursick “to bustle about, fidget”; apparently fuss + -ick, variant of -ock

Word History and Origins

Origin of fossick¹

C19: Australian, probably from English dialect fussock to bustle about, from fuss

Example Sentences

Mother and daughter Angela Fossick, 74, and Lorna Fossick, 48, are first-timers at the festival and decided to go to celebrate their shared birthdays.

From BBC

Deep learning employs pieces of software called artificial neural networks to fossick out otherwise-abstruse patterns.

From Economist

Her body was found on Grisham’s father’s property on Fossick Lane in Cherokee.

From Washington Times

Fossick for them and you may avoid buyer’s remorse.

From The Guardian

“There was concern that was aired in the last election that foreigners participating in the property market were contributing to high prices,” said Christopher Fossick, the managing director of Jones Lang LaSalle in Southeast Asia.

From New York Times