Boozle

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To consume alcoholic drink in large quantities, usually to the point of intoxication
2. To indulge in liquor excessively, often in a carousing or drunken manner
3. To drink heavily and repeatedly, typically with a loss of sober judgment

Etymology: "Booze" is the parent of this verb, and "boozle" keeps its sense of drinking hard. "Booze" descends from Middle English "bousen," borrowed from Middle Dutch "būsen," meaning to drink deeply. The "-le" ending is a common English verb pattern, seen in words like "nuzzle" and "twinkle," which often describe repeated or vigorous action. Read that way, the verb is a livelier variant of the older drinking word. Because "boozle" is an informal and largely dialect form, its early records are thinner than those of "booze," so its exact development is harder to trace. The link to "booze" is the clearest part of the story.

Synonyms: booze, drink, tipple

Antonyms: abstain