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Glite Dictionary
to bowse

to bowse

9.9
Pull heavy things on a ship using ropes and pulleys
  • verb
  • /baʊz/
  • Archaic
translation icon : tirar
  • The sailors bowsed the heavy anchor aboard using a sturdy block and tackle.

Examples

  • They quickly bowsed the boom into position as the wind picked up.

  • Can you bowse that line over here?

  • He bowsed the line taut before securing it to the post.

  • They bowse the anchor up every morning.

  • The crew bowsed the sails to catch the wind as they set off.

  • With great effort, he bowsed the heavy line up to the deck.

  • As the storm approached, they bowsed the rigging to prepare for rough seas.

Synonyms

to bouse
vsto bowse
  • Archaic
9.9

To pull heavy things using a rope and pulley

is the same meaning but expressed in a different spelling form

Surface Forms

bowse infinitive
bowed past
bowed past participle
bowing present participle
bowses third person singular

Etymology

Bowse comes from an old ship word meaning 'to haul' or 'to pull with a tackle'; imagine sailors using ropes and a pulley to pull a heavy anchor aboard. So bowse now means to pull or haul something into place, often with ropes and gear.