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to bouse

to bouse

9.9
To pull heavy things using a rope and pulley
  • verb
  • Archaic
translation icon : bousar
  • The crew will bouse the sails before the storm.

Examples

  • The sailors had to bouse the anchor chain with all their strength.

  • They are bousing the heavy cargo aboard using block and tackle.

  • He boused the sail tight as the wind picked up.

  • He boused the heavy load onto the deck.

  • The crew will bouse the sails before the storm arrives.

  • The sailors had to bouse the anchor chain with all their strength.

  • They are bousing the heavy cargo aboard using a tackle system.

Synonyms

to bowse
vsto bouse
  • Archaic
9.9

Pull heavy things on a ship using ropes and pulleys

has identical meaning but is a different spelling
to brail
vsto bouse
  • Archaic
9.9

To pull fish into a boat using a small net

refers to hauling heavy loads with a tackle rather than only fish

How Hard

to yank
196 4.1
to heave
35 3.9
to bouse
  • Archaic
9.9
to tug
56 1.0
pull
45 1.0

Surface Forms

bouse infinitive
boused past
boused past participle
bousing present participle
bouses third person singular

Etymology

Bouse is a sailor's term for pulling heavy things with ropes and pulleys; a helpful way to remember it is to think of the similar word boost, which means 'to lift' or 'help up'. So when sailors 'bouse' a sail or anchor, they are hauling it tight with all their strength.