From Middle English *dosen, from Old Norse dúsa (“to doze, rest, remain quiet”), from Proto-Germanic *dusāną (“to be dizzy”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰews- (“to fly, whirl”), from *dʰew- (“to fly, shake, reek, steam, smolder”). Cognate with Old Frisian dusia (“to be dizzy”), German Low German dösen (“to doze”), German dösen (“to doze”), Danish døse (“to doze”), dialectal Swedish dusa (“to doze, slumber”), Icelandic dúsa (“to doze”), Old English dysiġ (“foolish, stupid”), Scots dosnit (“stunned, stupefied”), Icelandic dúra (“to nap, slumber”), also compare Dutch doezelen (“to doze”). More at dizzy.
1
To sleep lightly or briefly; to nap, snooze.
I didn’t sleep very well, but I think I may have dozed a bit.
If he Happen'd to Doze a little no and then in a Morning, the Jolly Cobbler Wak'd him.1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:
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She dozes, too. Lies there for a minute or two, all these thoughts going through her head.1992, Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash, page 357:
2
To make dull; to stupefy.
I was an hour […] in casting up about twenty sums, being dozed with much work.1666, Samuel Pepys, diary dated 13 October, 1666:
October 29, 1693, Robert South, a sermon preached at Christ-church in Oxford before the university They left for a long time (as it were) dozed and benumbed.
From Middle English *dosen, from Old Norse dúsa (“to doze, rest, remain quiet”), from Proto-Germanic *dusāną (“to be dizzy”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰews- (“to fly, whirl”), from *dʰew- (“to fly, shake, reek, steam, smolder”). Cognate with Old Frisian dusia (“to be dizzy”), German Low German dösen (“to doze”), German dösen (“to doze”), Danish døse (“to doze”), dialectal Swedish dusa (“to doze, slumber”), Icelandic dúsa (“to doze”), Old English dysiġ (“foolish, stupid”), Scots dosnit (“stunned, stupefied”), Icelandic dúra (“to nap, slumber”), also compare Dutch doezelen (“to doze”). More at dizzy.
1
A light, short sleep or nap.
I felt much better after a short doze.
Others who conscientiously attended the Technical College at night often drooped over their desks in a doze, and one does not wonder at it.1944 September and October, A Former Pupil, “Some Memories of Crewe Works—I”, in Railway Magazine, page 285:
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At the mention of money Mrs Dibble was overcome with great debility, and wheezed, "I don't feel up to talking about money, matters just now, dearie. I think I better have a bit of a doze."1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 43:
Donald Duck: I'll give you $20 for those old license plates on your fence posts! Other man: Hah? No chance! I bought dis house 'cause it has dis address! It's me lucky number! […] It was me prison number at Leavenworst and de winning number in de weekly parole lottery! I wudn't never sell doze plates!1987, Don Rosa, Recalled Wreck: