Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Souse?

\Souse\, n. [OF. sausse. See {Sauce}.] [Written also {souce}, {sowce}, and {sowse}.] 1. Pickle made with salt. 2. Something kept or steeped in pickle; esp., the pickled ears, feet, etc., of swine. And he that can rear up a pig in his house, Hath cheaper his bacon, and sweeter his souse. --Tusser. 3. The ear; especially, a hog's ear. [Prov. Eng.] 4. The act of sousing; a plunging into water.
\Souse\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Soused}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Sousing}.] [Cf. F. saucer to wet with sauce. See {Souse} pickle.] 1. To steep in pickle; to pickle. ``A soused gurnet.'' --Shak. 2. To plunge or immerse in water or any liquid. They soused me over head and ears in water. --Addison. 3. To drench, as by an immersion; to wet throughly. Although I be well soused in this shower. --Gascoigne.
\Souse\, v. i. [Probably fr. OF. sors, p. p. of sordre to rise, and first used of an upward swood, then of a swoop in general, but also confused with {Souse}, v. t. See {Source}.] To swoop or plunge, as a bird upon its prey; to fall suddenly; to rush with speed; to make a sudden attack. For then I viewed his plunge and souse Into the foamy main. --Marston. Jove's bird will souse upon the timorous hare. --J. Dryden. Jr.
\Souse\, v. t. To pounce upon. [R.] [The gallant monarch] like eagle o'er his serie towers, To souse annoyance that comes near his nest. --Shak.
\Souse\, n. The act of sousing, or swooping. As a falcon fair That once hath failed or her souse full near. --Spenser.
\Souse\, adv. With a sudden swoop; violently. --Young.