▪ I. ˈbousing, vbl. n.
[f. bouse v.1 + -ing1.]
1. Deep drinking, guzzling, tippling.
| a 1529 Skelton Image Hypocr. iv. 583 How they iest and iell, With bowsing and bollinge. 1567 Harman Caveat 23 The buriall was turned to bousing and belly chere. 1641 Hinde J. Bruen iv. 15 They..have [not] any skill in any arts but of..bowzing and drinking. |
2. Falconry. (See quots.)
| 1575 Turberv. Falconrie 243 By bouzing..you shall have evident proofe and undoubted shewe of his disease. 1615 Latham Falconry Gloss., Bousing is when a Hawke drinketh often, and seemes to be continually thirstie. |
3. attrib., as bousing-bout, bousing-can, bousing-den, bousing-house, bousing-inn; † bousing ken (Thieves' slang), a low ale-house.
| 1596 Spenser F.Q. i. iv. 22 In his hand did bear a bouzing can. 1594 Nashe Unfort. Trav. Wks. (Grosart) V. 68 Their houghs & bousing houses, which commonly are built fayrer than their Churches. 1561 J. Awdelay Frat. Vacab. 3 The Alehouse, whych they call the Bowzyng In. 1567 Harman Caveat 83 A bousing ken, a ale house. 1652 Brome Jov. Crew ii. Wks. 1873 III. 390 As Tom or Tib..When they at Bowsing Ken do swill. |
▪ II. ˈbousing, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
That bouses; given to immoderate drinking; tippling.
| 1569 Turberv. Epit. & Sonn. (1837) 331 As Circes cup no sooner might the bowsing Greekes beguile. 1589 Hay any Work 33 Dumbe Johns bousing mates. a 1659 Cleveland Inund. of Trent 49 With a file of bowzing Comrades. |