Main Entry:

¹douse

Variant(s):

also dowse \ˈdau̇s also ˈdau̇z\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

doused also dowsed; dous·ing also dows·ing

Etymology:

perhaps from obsolete English douse to smite

Date:

1600

transitive verb1: to plunge into water2 a: to throw a liquid on : drench b: slosh3: extinguish <douse the lights>intransitive verb: to fall or become plunged into water

— dous·er also dows·er noun