*souse*

n. [ OF. sausse. See Sauce. ] [ Written also souce, sowce, and sowse. ] 1. Pickle made with salt. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Something kept or steeped in pickle; esp., the pickled ears, feet, etc., of swine. [ 1913 Webster ]

And he that can rear up a pig in his house,
Hath cheaper his bacon, and sweeter his souse. Tusser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The ear; especially, a hog's ear. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The act of sousing; a plunging into water. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A drunkard. [ slang ] [ PJC ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Soused p. pr. & vb. n. Sousing. ] [ Cf. F. saucer to wet with sauce. See Souse pickle. ] 1. To steep in pickle; to pickle. “A soused gurnet.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To plunge or immerse in water or any liquid. [ 1913 Webster ]

They soused me over head and ears in water. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To drench, as by an immersion; to wet throughly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Although I be well soused in this shower. Gascoigne. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Probably fr. OF. sors, p. p. of sordre to rise, and first used of an upward swood, then of a swoop in general, but also confused with Souse, v. t. See Source. ] To swoop or plunge, as a bird upon its prey; to fall suddenly; to rush with speed; to make a sudden attack. [ 1913 Webster ]

For then I viewed his plunge and souse
Into the foamy main. Marston. [ 1913 Webster ]

Jove's bird will souse upon the timorous hare. J. Dryden. Jr. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To pounce upon. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

[ The gallant monarch ] like eagle o'er his serie towers,
To souse annoyance that comes near his nest. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of sousing, or swooping. [ 1913 Webster ]

As a falcon fair
That once hath failed or her souse full near. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With a sudden swoop; violently. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]