[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, -can, -den, -house, -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. Awdeley, 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.
