▪ I. rousing, vbl. n.1
(ˈraʊzɪŋ)
[f. rouse v.1 + -ing1.]
The action of the verb in various senses.
| c 1580 J. Jeffere Bugbears Epil., With sowcynges, with rowsynges, with bownsynges. 1587 Golding De Mornay xvii. (1617) 290 A rouzing of her feathers & a vaine flapping of her wings. 1627 Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. vii. 31 Rousing is..pulling the slacknesse of any Cables with mens hands into the Ship. 1634 W. Burton (title), The Rowsing of the Sluggard. Deliuered in seuen Sermons. 1719 E. Baynard Health (1740) 19 Ferments in the body pent, which early rowzing may prevent. 1756 Burke Subl. & B. Wks. I. 265 That without this rousing they would become languid and diseased. 1823 J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. 22 The addition of lime to the pyrolignous acid..is done in a large vessel by frequent rousings up. c 1870 Stubbs Lect. Europ. Hist. ii. x. (1904) 258 A sort of rousing appears to take place. |
▪ II. ˈrousing, vbl. n.2
[f. rouse v.2]
The action of sprinkling, etc.
| 1706 A. Boyer Ann. Q. Anne IV. 51 The clause relating to the rousing of herrings with foreign salt. 1842 J. Wilson Voy. Scotl. II. 158 The necessities of gutting and rousing. 1887 C. A. Moloney Forestry W. Afr. 127 It is recommended that new resins should be subject to a rough sifting and rousing in common soda-and-water. |
▪ III. rousing, vbl. n.3
see rouse v.4
▪ IV. rousing, ppl. a.
(ˈraʊzɪŋ)
[f. rouse v.1
In the following quotation the precise sense is not clear.
1606 Wily Beguiled E ij, Ile..wrap me in a rousing Calue⁓skin suite, and come like some Hob-goblin, or some Diuell Ascended from the grisly pit of Hell.]
1. That rouses, awakens, or stirs up.
| 1641 Milton Animadv. Wks. 1851 III. 230 Against negligence or obstinacy will be requir'd a rousing volie of Pastorly threatning. 1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. iv. ix. (1848) 222 The careless Sensualists, that fly a rowzing Sermon. 1755 Connoisseur No. 92 ¶8 Justice Silence..has no sooner swallowed the rousing cup, than he roars out a catch. 1791 Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest ii, He gave the fire a rousing stir. 1889 Spectator 14 Dec. 830 He was the most rousing of our poets. |
| transf. 1799 Robertson Agric. Perth 181 A rousing furrow should be given to it, and the rough stubble turned down. |
2. a. Of a lie: Outrageous, gross.
| 1664 H. More Myst. Iniq. viii. 133 It were likewise a good roosing miracle, and bigger then belief, that a certain Holy House..should be carried out of Palestine into Italy. 1677 Coles Eng.-Lat. Dict., A rousing lye, mendacium magnificum. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Rousing Lie, a whisking great one. 1791 Burns Death & Dr. Hornbook i, Ev'n Ministers, they hae been kenn'd..A rousing whid, at times, to vend. 1828 Carr Craven Gloss. |
b. Of a fire: Roaring, blazing strongly.
| 1682 Tate Abs. & Achit. ii. 547 For our wise rabble ne'er took pains to inquire, What 'twas he burnt, so it made a rousing fire. 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) II. 151 The weather was very cold.., and I had a rousing fire. 1838 Dickens Lett. (1880) I. 9 A rousing fire halfway up the chimney. 1887 R. N. Carey Uncle Max vi, Come into the parlor: there is a fine rousing fire that will soon warm you. |
c. Of trade, etc.: Brisk, lively.
| 1767 Sterne Tr. Shandy ix. v, A Jew..had the ill luck to die of a strangury, and leave his widow in possession of a rousing trade. 1895– in Eng. Dial. Dict. in various contexts. |
3. Of the nature of, connected with, awakening or rising.
| 1671 Milton Samson 1382, I begin to feel Some rouzing motions in me. 1712–14 Pope Rape Lock i. 15 Now lapdogs give themselves the rowsing shake. |
4. That is awakening or rising.
| 1821 Clare Vill. Minstr. I. 13 Meeting objects from the rousing farm. |
Hence ˈrousingly adv.
| 1664 H. More Myst. Iniq. 376 To act more rousingly. 1847 Webster, Rousingly, violently, excitingly. |