▪ I. † deˈboise, v. Obs.
Also 7 deboyst, -boish, -boysh.
[A by-form of debosh debauch, with which it is connected by various intermediate forms: see deboist ppl. a. The phonetic history is not clear.]
1. refl. To leave one's employment; to take recreation. [= F. se débaucher, Littré.]
| 1633 J. Done Hist. Septuagint 44 Worke-men..whom hee helde so close to their businesse that hee would not give them any leasure to deboyst themselves nor to idle sport by no meanes. |
2. trans. To corrupt morally; to deprave by sensuality; = debauch v. 2. Also fig.
| 1654 Gayton Pleas. Notes ii. i. 35 Wicked wretch as I am, to be at such a late houre deboysing my selfe. 1654 Z. Coke Logick (1657) A iij b, Corruption of manners..doth deboish a people. 1656 in Burn Poor Laws (1764) 47 They do make it their trade..to cheat, deboyst [? deboyse], cozen, and deceive the young gentry. 1662 J. Davies Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 333 To make a temperate use of the Philosophy of Aristotle..not deboysting himself. |
3. To spend prodigally; to squander; = debauch v. 5.
| 1632 Quarles Div. Fancies iii. lxxv. (1664), One part to cloath our pride, Another share we lavishly deboise To vain, or sinful joyes. |
▪ II. † deˈboise, a. Obs.
[Corruption of deboist: cf. debauch a.]
= next.
| 1632 Randolph Jealous Lovers iii. ii, The deboisest Roarers in the citie. 1644 Bulwer Chiron. 34 One Polemon a deboyse young man. 1667–9 Butler Rem. (1759) II. 205 (A clown) All the worst Names that are given to Men..as Villain, Deboyse, Peasant, &c. |