doze

Definition

To sleep lightly or briefly; to nap, snooze.

Etymology

From Middle English *dosen, from Old Norse dúsa (“to doze, rest, remain quiet”), from Proto-Germanic *dusāną (“to be dizzy”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰews- (“to fly, whirl”), from *dʰew- (“to fly, shake, reek, steam, smolder”). Cognate with Old Frisian dusia (“to be dizzy”), German Low German dösen (“to doze”), German dösen (“to doze”), Danish døse (“to doze”), dialectal Swedish dusa (“to doze, slumber”), Icelandic dúsa (“to doze”), Old English dysiġ (“foolish, stupid”), Scots dosnit (“stunned, stupefied”), Icelandic dúra (“to nap, slumber”), also compare Dutch doezelen (“to doze”). More at dizzy.

Example Sentences

• "I didn’t sleep very well, but I think I may have dozed a bit."
• "If he Happen'd to Doze a little no and then in a Morning, the Jolly Cobbler Wak'd him."
• "She dozes, too. Lies there for a minute or two, all these thoughts going through her head."