General
bouse
What does bouse mean?
A 'bousing ken' — the alehouse or drinking-den where the canting crew gathered.
"Meet me at the bousing ken when the lightmans fails."
Origin
Recorded by Harman (1566) and in B.E. (1699) and Grose (1785). The word is the ancestor of modern 'booze'; the 'bousing ken' was the canting name for the alehouse.
Frequently asked questions
What does bouse mean in thieves' cant?
To drink, or drink itself — the canting verb and noun for liquor, recorded by Harman (1566) and Grose (1785).
Is bouse related to booze?
Yes — modern 'booze' descends directly from this cant and earlier Middle Dutch/Middle English forms.
What is a bousing ken?
The alehouse or drinking-den where the canting crew gathered, 'ken' being cant for a house.
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