douse

Founding-era definition · Webster's 1828 American Dictionary

DOUSE, verb transitive [Gr.] 1. To thrust or plunge into water. 2. In seamens language, to strike or lower in haste; to slacken suddenly. douse the top-sail. DOUSE, verb intransitive To fall suddenly into water.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI

More founding-era words: liberty · virtue · republic · justice · providence · commerce · militia · arms · prudence · establishment · religion · usurpation · tyranny · citizen · unalienable · sovereign