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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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ROUSE, v.² Also roose, ruse (Ags. 1858 People's Journal (12 June) 1). [ru:z]

1. To sprinkle (fish) with salt in the process of curing (Sc. 1825 Jam.; I. and n.Sc., Fif. 1968). Also in Eng. fish-curing. Hence in ppl.adj., vbl.n. and phr.: roused, salted; rousing, the process of salting. Comb. rousing tub, a vessel in which preliminary salting is done; to rouse with salt upon salt, to change the pickle in curing fish (Sc. 1825 Jam.).Sc. 1711 Fountainhall Decisions II. 661:
His charter not mentioning that it was for export, he was not bound to rouse them with salt upon salt.Sc. 1800 Annual Register 110:
Herrings sprinkled (or as it is termed ‘roused or corned') with a moderate quantity of salt will continue perfectly good at least two months.Ags. 1821 Montrose Chron. (20 April) 113:
Baskets, Rousing Tubs, and other articles necessary in the curing of Herrings.Sc. 1884 W. S. Miln Herring Fishing 12:
A large square box, or tank, called a “farlin,” i.e. a repository for the herrings, where they are “roused,” and await the process of gutting.Sh. 1911 R. J. Duthie Art of Fishcuring 3:
The most important process in the curing of herrings is known as “rousing.” . . . A few platefuls of salt are first thrown over the gutted herrings, after which the packer turns them up thoroughly from the bottom of the tub, until every herring has come freely into contact with the salt.Bnff. 1950 N. Paterson Behold Thy Daughter i. ii.:
Whenever they had filled a basket they emptied it into one of the rousing-tubs, and then the packer, sitting inside a circle of baskets and tubs, rhythmically roused and packed.Sc. 1953 Abd. Press & Jnl. (17 June):
5692 barrels of roused ungutted herring were sent to Israel.

2. To sprinkle with water, to use a watering can (Sc. 1880 Jam.; ne.Sc., Ags. 1968). Hence rouser, rousar, ro(o)ser, roozer, a watering can (Abd. 1773 Weekly Mag. (7 Jan.) 40; Ork., ne.Sc., Ags., Per., Slg., wm.Sc. 1968; Mry. 1980s; Rs. 1990s; Bnff., Abd., Edb., Ayr. 2000s); the rose or perforated nozzle of a watering can (Mry.¹ 1930). Also used as a v. tr., to use a watering can on, to besprinkle.Abd. 1833 A. Robb Poems (1852) 55:
Thump upon auld tin pots, Kettles, an' rousars.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 229:
Gang an' rooser the claes o' the green.Mry. 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. 97:
The watter's stoorin' oot o' yer pooches there as if it was comin' fae a rooser.Bnff. 1939 J. M. Caie Hills and Sea 36:
Nae mair waterticht nor roosers.Mry. 1953 Northern Scot (25 April):
Birds' Cages, Roozers, Jelly Pan.