Drowse
/draʊz/noun
To be half-asleep or sleepy; to doze lightly.
Did you know?“Drowse” is related to “doze” and other Germanic words for dullness or stupefaction, showing how English often names states of consciousness by the feeling they leave behind.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*drūsijaną
“to be sluggish, drowsy”
Old English
OE
drūsian
“to become sluggish or faint”
Middle English
ME
drousen
“to be sleepy, doze, or become sluggish”
16th Century
English
drowse
“to be in a light sleep or sleepy state”
Modern English
English
drowse
“to be half-asleep or sleepy”