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 verb 1 : to plunge into water
2 a : to throw a liquid on : drench b : slosh
3 : extinguish <douse the lights>intransitive verb : to fall or become plunged into water

— dous·er also dows·er noun