Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb Present participle of bowse.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Friars Cowle, which was so snottie and greazie, that good store of kitchin stuffe might have beene boiled out of it; as also a foule slovenly Trusse or halfe doublet, all baudied with bowsing, fat greazie lubberly sweating, and other drudgeries in the Convent

    The Decameron 2004

  • All day she walked from ship to ship upon the cluttered decks in the roar of the tank engines, dodging the men bowsing down securing tackles, chi-hiking sometimes with anxious soldiers uttering strained pleasantries.

    The Breaking Wave Shute, Nevil, 1899-1960 1955

  • How much more mirth will you receive from her, when she has taken a good bowsing cup to be jolly!

    The Ten Pleasures of Marriage and the Second Part, The Confession of the New Married Couple A. Marsh

  • Place a tackle across the deck ready for bowsing the gun into its carriage through the port.

    Ordnance Instructions for the United States Navy. 1866. Fourth edition. United States. Navy Dept. Bureau of Ordnance

  • A nautical man would have noticed, too, that she was hove short, right over her anchor, so that no time should be lost in bowsing that up to the cathead and getting under weigh, when the time came to man the windlass and heave up the cable, with a "Yo-heave ho!"

    Fritz and Eric The Brother Crusoes

  • But when he attempted to act upon that very sensible decision a burly dog came bowsing out and disputed his right.

    Can Such Things Be? Ambrose Bierce 1878

  • No man is the worse for bowsing out his jib when off duty, though a drunkard's a thing I despise.

    Jack Tier; Or, the Florida Reef 1848

  • His father took the helm, while we two, assisted by a dog of the small Newfoundland breed, which Tom had taught to take a rope in his teeth, and be of no small service to two boys in bowsing on

    Jacob Faithful Frederick Marryat 1820

  • All hands is bowsing out their jibs on it, sir, and the old Hall will soon be carrying as much sail as she can stagger under.

    The Two Admirals James Fenimore Cooper 1820

  • "Oakes is bowsing out his jib with his brother baronet, as we sailors say, and I have hauled out of the line, without a signal."

    The Two Admirals James Fenimore Cooper 1820

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