\Souse\, n. [OF. sausse. See {Sauce}.] [Written also
{souce}, {sowce}, and {sowse}.]
1. Pickle made with salt.
2. Something kept or steeped in pickle; esp., the pickled
   ears, feet, etc., of swine.
         And he that can rear up a pig in his house, Hath
         cheaper his bacon, and sweeter his souse. --Tusser.
3. The ear; especially, a hog's ear. [Prov. Eng.]
4. The act of sousing; a plunging into water.

\Souse\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Soused}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Sousing}.] [Cf. F. saucer to wet with sauce. See {Souse}
pickle.]
1. To steep in pickle; to pickle. ``A soused gurnet.''
   --Shak.
2. To plunge or immerse in water or any liquid.
         They soused me over head and ears in water.
                                               --Addison.
3. To drench, as by an immersion; to wet throughly.
         Although I be well soused in this shower.
                                               --Gascoigne.

\Souse\, v. i. [Probably fr. OF. sors, p. p. of sordre to
rise, and first used of an upward swood, then of a swoop in
general, but also confused with {Souse}, v. t. See {Source}.]
To swoop or plunge, as a bird upon its prey; to fall
suddenly; to rush with speed; to make a sudden attack.
      For then I viewed his plunge and souse Into the foamy
      main.                                    --Marston.
      Jove's bird will souse upon the timorous hare. --J.
                                               Dryden. Jr.

\Souse\, v. t.
To pounce upon. [R.]
      [The gallant monarch] like eagle o'er his serie towers,
      To souse annoyance that comes near his nest. --Shak.

\Souse\, n.
The act of sousing, or swooping.
      As a falcon fair That once hath failed or her souse
      full near.                               --Spenser.

\Souse\, adv.
With a sudden swoop; violently. --Young.