Word Study
fossick
CIDE DICTIONARY
fossick, v. i. [Dial. E. fossick, fossuck, a troublesome person, fussick to potter over one's work, fussock to bustle about; of uncertain origin. Cf. Fuss.].
- To search for gold by picking at stone or earth or among roots in isolated spots, picking over abandoned workings, etc.; hence, to steal gold or auriferous matter from another's claim. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
- To search about; to rummage."A man who has fossicked in nature's byways." [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
fossick, v.intr. Austral. & NZ colloq.
1 (foll. by about, around) rummage, search.
2 search for gold etc. in abandoned workings.
1 (foll. by about, around) rummage, search.
2 search for gold etc. in abandoned workings.
Derivative
fossicker n.
Etymology
19th c.: cf. dial. fossick bustle about
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