Fossick

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Fossick \Fos"sick\, 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}.]
     1. (Mining) 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. [Australia]
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  
     2. To search about; to rummage.
  
              A man who has fossicked in nature's byways. --D.
                                                    Macdonald.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]