Dousing

Dousing refers to the act of applying liquid to something in order to soak it, drench it, or extinguish a fire. The most common form is dousing with water. In firefighting and emergency response, to douse a flame means to wet it sufficiently to reduce heat and deprive the fire of fuel. Dousing may also describe soaking objects during cleaning, gardening, or agricultural irrigation.

The term is distinct from the related practice of dowsing, which is spelled d-o-w-s-i-n-g and refers to the controversial art of locating underground water, minerals, or treasures using rods or pendulums. Because of the similarity in spelling and pronunciation, the two terms are sometimes confused. In ordinary use, dousing refers to wetting or soaking, while dowsing denotes the divination practice.

Notes on origin and usage: the verb douse originates in English with senses tied to plunging into liquid or saturating, but its exact etymology is unclear. In safety contexts, dousing flammable liquids can be dangerous and inappropriate, and the appropriate method of extinguishing a fire depends on the fuel and setting. Overall, dousing is primarily a physical action of wetting or soaking, rather than a claim of any paranormal technique.