souse /saʊs/noun 12verb 5adverb 1forms 3 noun12 •Something kept or steeped in brine. •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. — 1848 •(US, Appalachia) Pickled scrapple. •(Caribbean) Pickled or boiled ears and feet of a pig •A pickle made with salt. •A drunkard."If there's any, giving in charge here I'll give you in charge for sneaking my beer, you slop-bellied old souse!" exclaimed Peter. — 1950 •The act of sousing; a plunging into water. •The ear; especially, a hog's ear. •A heavy blow.With that his murdrous mace he vp did reare, / That seemed nought the souse thereof could beare, — 1596 •The act of sousing, or swooping.Eft fierce retourning as a foulcon fayre, / That once hath failed of her souse full neare — 1590 •(old-fashioned) A small amount. •(no longer used) A sou (the French coin). verb5 •To immerse in liquid; to steep or drench.(Although I bee well soused in this showere,) — 1575 •To steep in brine; to pickle. •(dialect) To strike, beat. •(dialect) To fall heavily.Him so transfixed she before her bore / Beyond his croupe, the length of all her launce; / Till, sadly soucing on the sandy shore, / He tombled on an heape, and wallowd in his gore. — 1590 •(no longer used) To pounce upon.[The gallant monarch] like an eagle o'er his eyrie towers, / To souse annoyance that comes near his nest. — 1596 adverb1 •(dialect, no longer used) Suddenly, without warning.Mr Nash […] suddenly taking the gentleman by the collar of his coat, and waistband of his breeches, threw him souse over the parapet to the object of his love. — 1780 formssoused · sousing · souses
