douse
UK[daʊs]US[daʊs]
v
to make something wet by throwing a lot of liquid over it; to drench.
v
to put out a fire or light quickly by pouring water over it or covering it.
Etymology
the origin of 'douse' is uncertain but intriguing. it first appeared in english in the late 16th century, possibly as a sailors' term. one strong theory suggests it is an alteration of the verb 'dowse', which itself may have roots in a dialectal word related to striking or plunging, hinting at the forceful action the word describes. another possibility is a connection to the middle dutch 'dossen', meaning to strike or doze, which could metaphorically extend to the act of plunging something into liquid. over time, its meaning specialized around the vigorous application of liquid, primarily to drench or extinguish, capturing the essence of a sudden, thorough soaking or quenching.
Analysis
this word is considered unsegmentable into meaningful morphemes within modern english spelling. its origin is obscure, but it is likely related to or a variant of the earlier english verb 'dowse'.
Examples
the firefighters quickly doused the flames before they could spread.
we got completely doused by a sudden downpour during our walk.
remember to douse the campfire thoroughly with water before leaving.