bowse: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very rare / ObsoleteHistorical / Nautical / Archaic slang
Quick answer
What does “bowse” mean?
To hoist or haul something (especially on a ship) using a pulley or tackle.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To hoist or haul something (especially on a ship) using a pulley or tackle.
1) To drink heavily, to carouse (archaic/nautical slang). 2) In historical nautical context, to secure or tighten rigging by hauling.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No modern regional difference; both meanings are equally historical/obsolete in all dialects.
Connotations
Purely historical or literary. The drinking sense carries a rustic, old-fashioned, possibly vulgar connotation.
Frequency
Effectively unused in modern English except in historical fiction or texts.
Grammar
How to Use “bowse” in a Sentence
[Subject] + bowse + [Object] (e.g., The sailors bowsed the yard).[Subject] + bowse + [Adverbial Particle] (e.g., They bowsed down on the line).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bowse” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The old salt told them to bowse the main halyard taut.
- In the 18th century, sailors would often bowse away their pay in port.
American English
- The historic ship's crew demonstrated how to bowse down the topsail yard.
- The pirate narrative described the crew's tendency to bowse after a successful raid.
adverb
British English
- No established adverbial use.
American English
- No established adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- No established adjectival use.
American English
- No established adjectival use.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical or nautical studies.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Historical nautical manuals; obsolete.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bowse”
- Spelling it as 'bouse' (an accepted variant).
- Using it in a modern context.
- Confusing the hauling and drinking meanings.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and considered obsolete or historical.
The drinking sense of 'bowse' is an archaic form and likely the origin of the modern word 'booze'.
It is not recommended. Modern terms like 'haul', 'tighten', or 'swig' (nautical) are preferred.
It rhymes with 'house' or 'mouse' (/baʊz/).
To hoist or haul something (especially on a ship) using a pulley or tackle.
Bowse is usually historical / nautical / archaic slang in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None in common usage.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a sailor with a BOW (as in bow-tie) and a Z (the sound of a pulley). He uses the 'BOW-Z' pulley to BOWSE up a sail.
Conceptual Metaphor
UP IS TIGHT / SECURE (for the hauling sense); DRINKING IS A PHYSICAL PULL/DRAIN (for the archaic sense).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following was a historical meaning of 'bowse'?