touse

Definition

To rumple, tousle.

Etymology

From Middle English tousen, tusen, from Old English *tūsian, from Proto-West Germanic *tūsōn. Cognate with German zausen (“to tousle”). Related also to English tease and toase. (a noisy disturbance): Compare typologically Russian раздра́й (razdráj) (<… драть (dratʹ)).

Example Sentences

• "His tongue troules like a Mill-clack: a towzes the Lady ſiſters, as a tumbling Dog does young Rabets; […]"
• "How did he like it when the live creatures Tickled and toused and browsed him all over, And worm, slug, eft, with serious features Came in, each one, for his right of trover?"