▪ I. † rouse, n.1 Obs.
[Of obscure origin.]
Mirth.
| c 1400 Beryn 1669 The todir burgeyse rose hym vp, for to make Rouse, And axid of his felawe [etc.]. Ibid. 3610 Beryn & his feleshipp wer within the house, And speken of hir answer, & made but litill rouse. |
▪ II. rouse, n.2
(raʊz)
Also 6–7 rowse.
[f. rouse v.1]
† 1. A shake (of the feathers, etc.). Obs.
| 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xxiii. (Arb.) 272 These fowles in their moulting time, when their feathers be sick, and be so loase in the flesh that at any little rowse they can easilie shake them off. 1600 Breton Melanch. Humours Wks. (Grosart) I. 14/1 But all in feare to make so farre a flight, Vntill his pennes were somewhat harder growne; He gaue a rowse. 1614 Latham Falconry (1633) 53 If her stomacke..be cold and dull, she will flie wilde and carelesly, and on plains and rowses. 1672 J. Josselyn New Englands Rarities 17 The Porcupine.., a very angry Creature and dangerous, shooting a whole shower of Quills with a rowse at their enemies. |
2. Mil. The signal for arousing; the réveille.
| 1802 James Milit. Dict., Rouse, one of the bugle-horn soundings for duty. 1821 J. Baillie Metr. Leg., Wallace xxxvii, No more again the rouse of war to hear. 1863 Cornh. Mag. VII. 446 The first notes of the rouse are dismal,..but they are succeeded by a few others of an encouraging and lively character. 1894 Wolseley Marlborough II. 198 When the ‘rouse’ had sounded that morning. |
3. A violent stir. Also rouse-out.
| 1824 W. Irving T. Trav. I. 61 He revolutionized the whole establishment, and gave it such a rouse that the very house reeled with it. 1881 C. A. Stephens Knockabout Club in Woods (1882) xi. 122 The result was a most unwelcome rouse-out shortly after ten o'clock. 1916 C. Sandburg Chicago Poems 125 The silk and flare of it [sc. a red scarf] is a great soprano leading a chorus Carried along in a rouse of voices reaching for the heart of the world. |
4. attrib., as (sense 2) rouse-parade.
| 1937 D. Jones In Parenthesis i. 4 We've got too many buns—and all those wads—you knew they were going—why did you order them—they won't be in after rouse⁓parade even—they've gone. |
▪ III. rouse, n.3 Now arch.
(raʊz)
Also 7 rouce, rouze, 7, 9 rowse.
[Prob. an aphetic form of carouse, due to the phrase to drink carouse having been apprehended as to drink a rouse.
It has been suggested that the word is ad. Da. (also Sw. and Norw.) rus, = Du. roes, LG. rûse, G. rausch intoxication, drunken fit; but both form and meaning are more easily accounted for by the above explanation. ‘The Danish rowsa’ in Dekker Gull's Hornbook may be simply due to the passages in Shakes. Hamlet.]
1. A full draught of liquor; a bumper.
| 1602 Shakes. Ham. i. ii. 126 And the Kings Rouce, the Heauens shall bruite againe. 1626 J. Taylor (Water P.) Trav. Wks. (1630) iii. 80/2 Because death should not terrifie him, they had giuen him many rowses and carowses of wine and beere. 1640 H. Glapthorne Wallenstein v. ii, My Lord,..take me off This lusty rowse to your owne health. |
| 1820 Shelley Let. to Maria Gisborne 65 Then all quaff Another rouse, and hold their sides and laugh. |
2. A carousal or bout of drinking.
| 1602 Shakes. Ham. ii. i. 58 There was he gaming, there o'retooke in's Rouse. 1619 Fletcher Mons. Thomas i. ii, She has heard..The gambols that you plaid.., your several mischiefs, Your rowses and your wenches. 1654 Gayton Pleas. Notes iv. viii. 217 After a good rouze, or good dose of Nepenthe, they are in a trance. |
| 1855 Kingsley Westw. Ho! viii, Amyas..invited..his old schoolfellows..to a merry supper and a ‘rowse’ thereon consequent. 1863 Cowden Clarke Shaks. Char. v. 131 It was natural that a free, open-hearted soldier should welcome the arrival of his brother-officers with a rouse. |
3. In the phrases to take one's rouse, have a rouse, give a rouse.
| (a) 1602 Shakes. Ham. i. iv. 8 The King doth wake to night, and takes his rouse. 1616 Marlowe's Faustus (Rtldg.) 122/2 He took his rouse with stoops of Rhenish wine. 1623 Massinger Dk. Milan i. i, Your lord, by his patent, Stands bound to take his rouse. |
| (b) 1609 B. Jonson Sil. Wom. iii. vi, We will haue a rouse in each of 'hem, anon, for bold Britons, yfaith. 1667 Davenant & Dryden Tempest iv. iii, I long to have a rouse to her grace's health. 1815 Scott Guy M. xxxiv, Rambling up and down this d―d vault, and thinking about the merry rouses we have had in it. 1842 Tennyson Vision of Sin iv. ix, Fill the cup, and fill the can: Have a rouse before the morn. 1864 Burton Scot Abr. II. 181 Patrick's neighbour,..with whom..he has a merry rouse. |
| (c) 1604 Shakes. Oth. ii. iii. 66 'Fore heauen, they haue giuen me a rowse already. 1609 Healey Discov. New World 84 Giue me one rouse, my freind, and get thee gone. 1842 Browning Cavalier Tunes ii. i, Give a rouse: here's, in Hell's despite now, King Charles! |
▪ IV. † rouse, a. Obs.
Also 5 rous, rowse.
[a. OF. rous (mod.F. roux):—L. russum, acc. of russus red.]
Red-haired. (Only in personal names.)
| c 1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 1146 Pray to hir..That sho forgif the, in this stede, Of Salados the rouse ded. c 1400 Brut cxxxiv. 138 After þis William Bastard regnede his sone William [þe] Rous. c 1425 in Maskell Mon. Rit. (1847) III. 345 For the soules of the kyngis William Rowse, Herry the firste [etc.]. 1531 Elyot Gov. i. xii, William called Rouse. |
▪ V. rouse, v.1
(raʊz)
Also 5–8 rowse, 6–8 rowze, 6–9 rouze (7 rouz), 7, 9 Sc. roose.
[Orig. a technical term in hawking and hunting, and so presumably of AF. or OF. origin, but the precise source is obscure. In general use common after c 1585, and freq. strengthened by up. Cf. also arouse v.1]
I. † 1. refl. a. Of a hawk: To shake the feathers. Obs. rare. Cf. sense 9.
| 1486 Bk. St. Albans A vi, And whanne she hathe doone she will rowse hire myghtyly. [1825 Scott Betrothed xxiii, The..vigour with which they pruned their plumes, and shook, or, as it was technically termed, roused themselves.] |
† b. (See quot.) Obs. rare.
| 1530 Palsgr. 694/2, I rowse, I stretche my selfe, as a man dothe whan he gothe to prove a maystrye, je me coppie. It was a sporte to se him rowse him selfe and stretche out his armes, or ever he began to wrestyll. |
2. trans. To cause (game) to rise or issue from cover or lair. Cf. raise v.1 4 b.
| 1531 Elyot Gov. i. xviii, If they wold use but a fewe nombre of houndes, onely to harborowe, or rouse, the game. 1575 Turberv. Venerie 106 The huntesman..shall then go before them and rowze the Deare. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, i. iii. 198 The blood more stirres To rowze a Lyon, then to start a Hare. 1627 Taylor (Water P.) Armado Wks. (1630) i. 93 So hath this Woodmanship diuers and sundry tearmes of Art..as you must say, Rowse a Bucke, Start a Hare, and vnkennel a Foxe. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 624 Thou mayst..Rouze from their Desart Dens, the bristled Rage Of Boars. 1709 Prior Henry & Emma 397 To beat the woods, and rouse the bounding prey. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) III. 121 The chief huntsman, entering with his hounds within the lines, rouzed the game with a full cry. 1831 Scott Cast. Dang. vi, He proposes to go to rouse the wild cattle. 1858 Kingsley Poems 160 They roused a hart,..A hart of ten. |
| fig. 1589 Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 15 When they want certaine liquid sacrifice, to rouze her [the muse] foorth her denne. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, ii. iii. 128 To rowze his Wrongs, and chase them to the bay. |
† 3. a. To raise or set up, to ruffle. Obs.
| 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. xi. 9 An Eagle, seeing pray appeare, His aery plumes doth rouze. Ibid. ii. iii. 35 He.., standing stoutly up, his lofty crest Did fiercely shake, and rowze as comming late from rest. 1604 Drayton Owle 732 As he stands proudly rowzing up his Plumes. |
† b. To raise or lift up. Also fig. Obs.
| 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, iv. i. 118 Henry Bullingbrooke and hee Being mounted, and both rowsed in their Seates. 1633 P. Fletcher Purple Isl. xi. xxix, She strives..to..rouze her fainting head, which down as oft would fall. 1650 Earl of Monmouth tr. Senault's Man bec. Guilty 310 When he heard the comfort of birds or the noyse of the waters he rowsed up his soul to his Creator. |
| refl. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, i. ii. 275, I will..shew my sayle of Greatnesse, When I do rowse me in my Throne of France. |
4. To cause to start up from slumber or repose; to awaken from sleep, meditation, etc. Also with up, out.
| 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, i. iii. 134 Rouz'd vp with boystrous vntun'd drummes. 1601 ― Twel. N. ii. iii. 60 Shall wee rowze the night-Owle in a Catch? 1632 Milton L'Allegro 54 The Hounds and horn Chearly rouse the slumbring morn. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 55 ¶1 A young Fellow who was rouzed out of his Bed, in order to be sent upon a long Voyage. 1757 W. Wilkie Epigoniad vii. 231 The stars descend; and soon the morning ray Shall rouse us to the labors of the day. 1819 Shelley Cenci iv. iv. 18, I must rouse him from his sleep, Since none else dare. 1853 Kingsley Hypatia xxviii, At last a low whistle roused her from her dream. 1896 Baden-Powell Matabele Campaign iii, Here I roused out Pyke, the officer in command. Ibid. xvi, At 2.30 we were roused up. |
| absol. 1846 Trench Mirac. xiv. (1862) 244 Christ rouses from the bier as easily as another would rouse from the bed. |
b. To disturb, chase away (sleep). rare.
| 1667 Milton P.L. iii. 329 The cited dead Of all past Ages to the general Doom shall hast'n, such a peal shall rouse thir sleep. |
5. fig. a. To awaken or startle (one) from a state of ease or security.
| 1594 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. ii. 577 Although some men..fall sometimes into this senslesnesse, yet..God afterwards rowseth them vp well enough. 1627 Drayton Agincourt 100 And in vpon Northumberland doth breake, Rowzing the Sluggish villages from sleepe. 1650 T. Hubbert Pill Formality 90 It rowsed him out of his security. a 1740 Waterland Serm. xxxiii. Wks. 1823 IX. 412 His present fears, rather than any thing of true penitence, roused him up, and made him have recourse to God. 1770 Pitt in Almon Anecd. (1810) II. xxxix. 194, I mean to rouse, to alarm the whole nation—to rouse the Ministry, if possible, who seem awake to nothing but the preservation of their places. |
b. To stir up, excite to vigorous action or thought, to provoke to activity.
| c 1586 C'tess Pembroke Ps. lv. iv, Purple morn,..and midday cleare, Shall see my praying voice to God enclin'd, Rowzing him up. 1612 T. Taylor Comm. Titus i. 16 When the holy Ghost would rowse vp the slothfull seruant, he threateneth him his portion with hypocrites. 1678 R. L'Estrange Seneca's Mor. (1702) 120 Philosophy..rouzes, us where we are faint and drouzy. 1710 Steele Tatler No. 2 ¶2 The Emperor is rouzed by this Alarm. 1777 Watson Philip II (1793) II. xiii. 173 The Spaniards, rouzed by the danger which threatened them,..made a bold and vigorous resistance. 1808 Med. Jrnl. XIX. 161 Emetics..I thought might rouse the liver from its state of torpor. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xxvii. 197 Vainly the postilion endeavoured to rouse them [sc. horses] by word and whip. 1888 Bryce Amer. Commw. II. 413 To excite the voters by..the sense of a common purpose, rousing them by speeches or literature. |
c. Const. to or into.
| 1701 De Foe Trueborn Eng. 45 Till Pity rowz'd him from his soft Repose, His Life to unseen Hazards to expose. 1715 Pope Iliad ii. 94 Unite, and rouze the sons of Greece to arms. 1743 R. Blair Grave 319 Enough to rouse a dead man into rage. 1831 Sir J. Sinclair Corr. II. 181 They roused the population to action, and armed them. 1847 Martin Ox 130/2 The animal is roused to fury. 1863 Geo. Eliot Romola vi, His pride was roused to double activity. |
d. To provoke to anger.
| 1843 P. Parley's Ann. IV. 355 He felt a delight..in plaguing the nursemaid, and in rousing the cook. |
6. refl. in senses 4 and 5.
| 1590 Lodge Rosalynde (Hunterian Cl.) 85 With that his Brother began to stirre, and the Lion to rowse himselfe. 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. iii. iii. 222 Sweete, rouse your selfe; and the weake wanton Cupid Shall from your necke vnloose his amorous fould. 1656 Sanderson Serm. (1689) 141 Rowzing up himself and his spirits with zeal as hot as fire. 1726 Swift Gulliver iv. ii, I roused myself, and looked about me in the Room where I was left alone. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho iv, He seemed by an effort to rouse himself. 1842 Tennyson Ld. of Burleigh 21 From deep thought himself he rouses. |
b. Const. to.
| 1587 Golding De Mornay Pref. (1592) p. vi, That reason rowseth up her selfe to rest vpon trueth. 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. v. ii. 287, I see him rowse himselfe To praise my Noble Act. 1693 Owen Holy Spirit 114 Let such Souls rouze up themselves to lay hold on him. 1746 P. Francis tr. Horace, Epist. i. ii. 48 Will you not rouse you to preserve yourself? 1848 Dickens Dombey xxxii, The Captain..roused himself to a sustained consciousness of that gentleman's presence. 1880 Mrs. Forrester Roy & V. I. 2 He too rouses himself to acknowledge the general homage. |
7. To stir up, agitate, put into motion, bring into an active state.
| 1582 Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 50 Thee water is rowsed, they doe frisk with flownse to the shoare ward. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 287 The sound of blustring winds, which all night long Had rous'd the Sea. 1728 T. Sheridan tr. Persius vi. (1739) 84 In rouzing the Strings of the Lyre. 1785 Burns Ep. to Rev. J. M‘Math 11 Lest they shou'd blame her, An' rouse their holy thunder on it. 1810 Sporting Mag. XXXVI. 277 All the charges which they and the prosecutor had roused up against him. 1836 Backwoods of Canada 79 The landlady..led me to a blazing fire, which her damsels quickly roused up. |
b. To stir up, excite, inflame (a feeling).
| 1589 Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 68 He began thus to rowze vp his furie. 1637 Heylin Answ. Burton 184 You call upon the nobles to rowze up their noble Christian zeale. 1666 Dryden Ann. Mirab. cxc, But sharp remembrance..And shame..Rouse conscious virtue up in every heart. 1752 Hume Ess. & Treat. (1777) I. 12 The spirit of the people must frequently be rouzed. 1777 Robertson Hist. Amer. ii. (1778) I. 116 Those unprovoked injuries rouzed their courage. 1841 Elphinstone Hist. Ind. II. 605 This crime only roused the indignation of the Marattas, without weakening their power. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 156 The passions of religious parties have been roused to the utmost. |
c. To stir (a liquid, esp. beer while brewing).
| 1823 J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. 101 Having poured boiling water on the suspected sample, rouse it well. 1839 Ure Dict. Arts 118 Rouse the beer as the hops are gradually introduced. 1876 Encycl. Brit. IV. 275/2 This is done by ‘rousing’ the gyle every two hours with a utensil made for the purpose. |
8. Naut. To haul in, out, or up with force.
| c 1625 Nomenclator Navalis (MS.), Rowse in is a worde theie use particulerlie when as a Cabell or Hawser doth lie slack in the water and they would have him made tawght. Ibid., To keepe it [the cable] stiff and tawght, they will hale in soe much as lies slack, and this they call Rowsing-in the Cabell or Rowse-in the Hawser. [Hence in various 17th cent. nautical works.] 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1780), Recouvrer, to rowse-in, or haul any rope into the ship. 1832 Marryat N. Forster v, You and the boy, rouse the cable up.., and bend it. 1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. xv. 85 Rouse the cable out through the hawse-hole. 1886 J. M. Caulfeild Seamanship Notes 3 Rouse out reef pendant. |
| transf. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer (1891) 193 You cut a straight sapling while we rouse out the saddle-straps for a splice. |
II. intr.
† 9. Of hawks or other birds and animals: To shake the feathers or body. Obs.
| 1486 Bk. St. Albans C viij, She Rousith when she shakith all hir federis. 1575 Turberv. Faulconrie 149 Then suffer hir until she rowse or mewte, and when she hath done either of them unhoode hir. 1639 T. de la Grey Compl. Horsem. 216 You shall perceive him either to shake his head, or to winch with his tayle, to rouze, or shake. 1657 R. Ligon Barbadoes (1673) 4 The Turtles..there, mute, prune, and oyl their feathers; rouse, and doe all their offices of nature. 1678 Phillips, Rowze, in Faulconry is when a Hawk lifteth up, and shaketh her self. |
10. Of game: To rise from cover. rare.
| 1575 Turberv. Venerie 106 All the horsemen must quickly cast abrode about the couert, to discouer y⊇ Harte when he rowzeth and goeth out of his hold. 1590 Sir T. Cockaine Treat. Hunting C iv b, This done, you may begin to tuft for a Bucke, and finding him single, especially if he rouse foorth of a great brake, put your hounds softly upon. 1826 Hone Every-day Bk. II. 1031 A red buck roused, then crossed in view. |
11. To move with violence; to rush. rare.
| 1582 Stanyhurst æneis i. (Arb.) 19 A king he placed, throgh whose Maiestical Empyre Theese blasts rouze forward, or back by his regal apoinctment. 1818 Sporting Mag. II. 279 The Paddington boy..tried again to rouse in upon Doly's victualling-office. |
† 12. To rise up, stand on end. Obs.—1
| 1605 Shakes. Macb. v. v. 12 My Fell of haire Would at a dismall Treatise rowze, and stirre As life were in't. |
13. To get up from sleep or repose; to waken up.
| 1605 Shakes. Macb. iii. ii. 52 Good things of Day begin to droope, and drowse, Whiles Nights black Agents to their Prey's doe rowse. 1642 Milton Apol. Smect. Wks. 1851 III. 266 Up, and stirring..with the Bird that first rouses. 1682 Creech Lucretius (1683) 131 And softer Curs, that lie and sleep at home, Do often rouse, and walk about the Room. 1707 J. Stevens tr. Quevedo's Com. Wks. (1709) 229 Day came, and we all rouz'd. 1719 De Foe Crusoe ii. (Globe) 488 Rouzing..from Sleep with the Noise, I caus'd the Boat to be thrust in. 1882 Floyer Unexpl. Baluchistan 99, I gradually roused up on hearing this, and..put my head out of the tent door. 1890 Illustr. Lond. News 13 Dec. 746/1 When I roused, the yellow sun was pouring in at my lattice. |
b. fig. To become active; to bestir oneself, take heart or courage, etc.
| 1589 L. Wright Hunting of Antichrist 13 Shortly after began to rowse our noble and valiant Lion of England, Henrie the eight of famous memorie. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. vii. xxxvi. (1623) 386 Hubba that had harried the English, and now rouzed upon the newes of King Elfred's victory and life. 1624 Quarles Job Militant xix. 6 Rouze up, fond man, and answere my replies. 1740 Johnson's Debates (1787) I. 91 It is surely time for this nation to rouse from indolence, and to resolve to put an end to frauds that have been so long known. 1791 Cowper Iliad iv. 498 Be it ours to rouse at once To action. 1831 Scott Cast. Dang. xiii, In God's name, rouse up, sir; let it not be said that [etc.]. |
c. Of qualities or feelings.
| 1671 Milton Samson 1690 His fierie vertue rouz'd From under ashes into sudden flame. 1759 Adam Smith Moral Sent. (1804) I. 181 Our indignation rouses and we are eager to refute..such detestable principles. 1850 Thackeray Pendennis lxxi, Arthur..felt his anger rousing up within him. |
▪ VI. rouse, v.2
(raʊz)
Also Sc. and north. roose, rooze.
[Aphetic form of arrouse v.]
1. trans. To sprinkle (herring, etc.) with salt in the process of curing.
| 17.. in Lauder's Suppl. Decis. Lds. Council IV. 845 His charter not mentioning that it was for export, he was not bound to rouse them with salt upon salt. 1800 Chron., Ann. Reg. 110/2 Herrings sprinkled (or as it is termed ‘roused or corned’) with a moderate quantity of salt will continue perfectly good at least two months. 1854 H. Miller Sch. & Schm. (1858) 43 We could see..the curers going about rousing their fish with salt, to counteract the effects of the dog-day sun. 1894 R. Leighton Wreck Golden Fleece 57 While I go below and roose the fish. |
2. To cause (water) to overflow (see quot.).
| 1794 Davis Agric. Wilts 38 In the catch-meadows..the great object is to keep the ‘works of them’ as dry as possible between the intervals of watering;..care is necessary to make the most of the water by catching and rousing it as often as possible. |
▪ VII. † rouse, v.3 Obs. rare.
[Of obscure origin.]
? To rest, settle.
| 1563 Foxe A. & M. 1393/2, I was caryed to my Lordes Colehouse agayne, where I with my syxe fellowes do rouse together in the straw, as cherefullye..as other doo in theyr beds of downe. 1616 Rich Cabinet 153 The maister of the house began to rouse his shoulders in a rich chaire. |
▪ VIII. rouse, v.4 Austral. and N.Z. colloq.
(raʊs)
Also rous.
[Cf. roust v.1]
intr. To scold. Freq. const. at, on, onto: to upbraid (someone). Hence ˈrousing vbl. n.3
| c 1910 in G. A. Wilkes Dict. Austral. Colloquialisms (1978) 279/2 Rouse, abuse or vilify. 1911 L. Stone Jonah v. 47 It's gittin' late; 'ow'll yer ole woman rous w'en yer git 'ome? Ibid. xi. 126 'E niver rouses on me. W'en 'e gits shirty, I just laugh, an' 'e can't keep it up. 1915 C. J. Dennis Songs of Sentimental Bloke 88 If she 'ad only roused I might 'a' smiled. She jist seems 'urt an' crushed; not even riled. 1934 V. Palmer Sea & Spinifex 182 Combo's one of those sulky devils that forget nothing... Can't take a bit of rousing as part of the day's work. 1940 F. Sargeson Man & his Wife 27 Then Mrs Bowman roused on to me for putting too much sugar in her tea. 1951 D. Cusack Say No to Death 30 Auntie used to rouse on me frightfully because I spent so much time on the beach. 1961 R. Lawler Piccadilly Bushman 31 Don't rouse at me, Alec. |