doze

i. & t. [Icel. dúsa =to doze; Dan. dose; Sw. dial. dusa; cf. A. S. dwæs =stupid, stupefied; Dut. dwaas foolish; Dan. dos drowsine . Connected with dizzy, and probably also with daze. ( Skeat.)] A. Intransitive : 1. To slumber, to sleep lightly. "There was no sleeping under his roof: if he happened to doze a little, the jolly cobler waked him."-L'Estrange. 2. To live or pa one's time in a drowsy manner; to live in a state of sleepy inaction. "To the banks where bards departed doze , They led him soft." Pope: Dunciad, ii. 321. 3. A boy's top is said to doze , or sleep, when its that it scarcely seems to move at all. B. Transitive : [DOWER, 8.] dow-ry, *dow-er-y, s. [English dower ; v.] motion is so rapid, and at the same time so equable, 1. A portion given or received with a wife; a dower. "With him the portion and sinew of her fortune, her marriage dowry ." -Shakesp.: Measure for Measure , iii. 1. *2. A gift or reward given for a wife. "Ask me never so much dowry and gift and I will give it thee." Gen. xxxiv. 12. 3. A fortune or ble ing given; an endowment, a portion. "And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry."- Gen . xxx. 20. *dowse (1), v . t. [DOUSE.] *dowse (2), *dou , v . t . [DUSCH.] To strike or slap in the face. 8. dowse, s. [DOWSE (2), v.] A slap on the face. ( Lit. & fig.) "Humph! that's another dowse for the Baronet."- Cole man: Poor Gentleman, iv. 1. *dow-set, s . [DOUCET.] *dows-ing, pr . par ., a. & 8. [DOWSE, v.] A. & B. As pr . par . & particip . adj .: (See the verb.) C. As subst.: The same as DOUSING (q. v.). dowsing-chock, s. [DoUSING-CHOCK.] dowst, s. [DOWSE (2), v.] *dowt, v . t . [DOUBT, v.]