To search for underground water or minerals with a divining rod.[Of obscure origin.]
Dowsing is usually performed using a forked twig. With two ends on each hand and the other end pointing out, a dowser walks forward and the pointer is supposed to lead towards water and vibrate when near water. There are even various societies of dowsers, for example, http://dowsers.org An argument refuting the claims of dowsing: http://randi.org/library/dowsing/
Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=dowse
The word is also a variant spelling of the word douse.
"[Edith Greene] found water for the town of Montgomery when a paid hydrologist couldn't. She is a person who spends a good part of her time dowsing, and not just for water."
Elizabeth Bingham; Dowser, Esoteric Healer to Speak at Dowsing Meeting; County Courier (Enosburg, Vermont); Jul 21, 2005.
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