dowse

¹ American  

[dous] / daʊs /

verb (used with or without object)

dowsed, dowsing

1. douse.

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dowse ² American  

[douz] / daʊz /

verb (used without object)

dowsed, dowsing

1. to search for underground supplies of water, metal, etc., by the use of a divining rod.

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verb (used with object)

dowsed, dowsing

1. to search for (as water) by or as if by dowsing.

dowse ¹ British  

/ daʊs /

verb

1. a variant spelling of douse 1

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dowse ² British  

/ daʊz /

verb

1. (intr) to search for underground water, minerals, etc, using a divining rod; divine

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Other Word Forms

• dowser noun

Etymology

Origin of dowse

First recorded in 1685–95; originally dialect (SW England); origin obscure

Example Sentences

Separate forest fires have been raging farther north, Anucha noted, including in Chiang Mai province, where water was dumped from the air Wednesday in an effort the dowse the flames.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 29, 2023

“Lyra, run forrard and dowse that glim,” said Brabandt, easing the throttle back and reaching out with his other hand for the stern light.

From Slate • Jun. 10, 2019

Spieth elected to answer, as if to dowse any sparks, and U.S. captain Jim Furyk highjacked the query before it could get back across to Reed before the media session ended.

From Golf Digest • Dec. 12, 2018

When done, she wud dowse the lite, causing dark.

From The Guardian • Oct. 21, 2017

I smiled at the thought of anyone trying to dowse for me now, trying to make sense of the dozens of contradictory signals as the leaves swirled and spun in a dozen different directions.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss