fossick
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fos·sick
(fŏs′ĭk)v. fos·sicked, fos·sick·ing, fos·sicks Australian
v.intr.
1. To search for gold, especially by reworking washings or waste piles.
2. To rummage or search around, especially for a possible profit.
v.tr.
To search for by or as if by rummaging.
[English dialectal, to find out, dig up.]
fos′sick·er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
fossick
(ˈfɒsɪk)vb
1. (Mining & Quarrying) (intr) to search for gold or precious stones in abandoned workings, rivers, etc
2. to rummage or search for (something)
[C19: Australian, probably from English dialect fussock to bustle about, from fuss]
ˈfossicker n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
fos•sick
(ˈfɒs ɪk)Chiefly Australian. v.i.
1. to search for waste gold in relinquished workings.
2. to rummage.
v.t. 3. to ferret out.
[1850–55; compare dial. fossick troublesome person]
fos′sick•er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
fossick
Past participle: fossicked
Gerund: fossicking
| Imperative |
|---|
| fossick |
| fossick |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
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fossick
verb (Austral. & N.Z.) search, hunt, explore, ferret, check, forage, rummage If you fossick around in some specialist music stores, you may be lucky enough to find a copy.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
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