Bowse

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To move about or search for something, often in a casual or relaxed manner; to forage or scavenge for food or resources; to take a moment to explore or investigate one's surroundings in an informal way
2. Engaging in leisurely searching or rummaging, particularly for provisions; undertaking a relaxed quest for items; casually examining an area with curiosity or interest
3. To browse and inspect for items in a laid-back way; to scavange for supplies or food easily; to wander and search through an environment while staying relaxed

Etymology: Before the drinking sense, this verb meant to drink heavily. It came into Middle English from Middle Dutch "būsen" or "buisen", with the same meaning, and the Dutch form survives as "buizen". The source of the Dutch word itself is unknown, so the trail ends there. A related Middle High German "būsen" meant "to swell", which hints at the idea of a belly filled with liquid, and the word is linked to the family of words for beer. The "browse" sense you describe is not part of this line. "Browse" comes from a different word, the Old French "broust", meaning a sprout or shoot that animals nibble, and it reached English separately. The two words have only come to sound alike.

Synonyms: consume, gobble, devour