[f. BOUSE v.1 + -Y1.]
1. Affected with much drinking; intoxicated, sotted; showing the effects of intoxication.
a. 1529. Skelton, El. Rumming, 17. Droupy and drowsy, Scuruy and lousy; Her face all bowsy.
1625. Modell of Wi., 31. With quaffing and carowsing … she could make him bowsie beyonde all measure.
1635. Long Meg of Westminster, ii. Neither beastly nor bowsie Sleepy nor drowsie.
1742. Pope, Dunciad, IV. 493. Rous’d at his name up rose the bouzy Sire.
1842. De Quincey, Herodotus, Wks. IX. 195. And every day got bousy as a piper.
2. Addicted to bousing, drunken.
1592. Greene, Upst. Courtier, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), II. 232. A seale to marke the bowsie drunkard to die of the dropsie.
1616. B. Jonson, Devil an Ass, V. vi. (1631), 164. To be greazy, and bouzy … ragged and louzy.
1708. Hearne, Collect. (1885), II. 109. There’s … Royce ye Bouzy.
Hence Bousyish, bowsyish a., rather bousy.
1832. J. Wilson, in Blackw. Mag., XXXII. 721. The oracular lip of your Lordships … Bowsyish Depute.
