Also 6 sowsing, 7 sowcing. [f. SOUSE v.1]
1. Of ears: Suitable for sousing; unusually large.
1567. Turberv., Epit., etc. 14 b. Hee had a paire of sowsing eares to shilde him from the raine.
1673. Hickeringill, Greg. F. Greyb., 302. A dismal Monster,… sowcing great Luggs and a Mouth greater.
2. Drenching, soaking.
1596. Drayton, Legend Pierce Gaveston, iv. Poems (1619), 353. By many a low Ebbe, many a lustie Tide, Many a smooth Calme, many a sowsing Showre.
1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, XVII. cxxi. (1702), 265. The gravid Vapor breaks With its own weight, and pours the sousing weather Down through the gloomy air.
1830. Scott, Jrnl., 7 July. I returned after two, with a sousing shower for companion.
1876. T. Hardy, Ethelberta, xliv. (1890), 353. The windy, sousing, thwacking … corner called St. Lucas’ Leap.
b. Splashing in water.
1891. T. Hardy, Tess, II. xxiii. 24. They disappeared round the curve of the road, and only his sousing footsteps and the top ribbon of Marian’s bonnet told where they were.
3. Strong, vigorous, ‘powerful.’ Now dial.
In later examples perh. from SOUSE v.2
1735. Bolingbroke, On Parties, 10. The arch Slyness of G—on, the dogmatical Dryness of H——e, or the soucing Prostitution of Sh—k.
1764. Foote, Patron, I. Wks. 1799, I. 335. A good sousing satire now, well powder’d with personal pepper.
1780. West’s Guide Lakes (E.D.D.), A sousing blow.
1876. Robinson, Mid-Yks. Gloss., 132/1. A great sousing fellow. Ibid., A sousing lot.
