bowsy

English

Etymology 1

Adjective

bowsy (comparative bowsier, superlative bowsiest)

1. Obsolete spelling of boozy
   • 1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, John Dryden, transl., “[The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] The Tenth Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […] Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. […], London: Printed for Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC:

     In his cups the bowsy poet sings.

Etymology 2

Probably from above, from being applied to drunkards.

Alternative forms

• bowsie

Noun

bowsy (plural bowsies)

1. (Ireland, colloquial) an unsavoury and unreliable (usually male) layabout.

   Synonyms: gurrier, gouger, lout, scanger, ruffian

   • 1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 1]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC:

     —The mockery of it, he said contentedly, seconleg they shoub be. God knows what poxy bowsy left the off.

Further reading

• Eric Partridge (1961) “boosy”, in A Dictionary of the Underworld, New York: Bonanza Books, page 63

Anagrams

• bwoys, sybow