English

Verb

fossick ‎(third-person singular simple present fossicks, present participle fossicking, simple past and past participle fossicked)

1. (Britain) To ferret out; to elicit information.
2. (Britain, Australia) To search for gold, gems, etc., on the surface or in abandonded workings.
   • 1902, State experiments in Australia and New Zealand, Volume 2,

     In New South Wales the bureau has been able to dispose of a large contingent of the workless by sending them to fossick for gold on old or deserted goldfields.

   • 1994, Ron Moon, Outback Australia: a Lonely Planet Australia guide,

     The best way to fossick on old dumps is to either sieve material from untouched areas or drag down the sides with a rake. You can also find gemstones by closely examining the surface without necessarily disturbing it.

   • 2003, Susannah Farfor, David Andrew, Hugh Finlay, Northern Territory,

     In order to fossick you must first obtain a fossicking permit; see relevant sections for price. Permission to fossick on freehold land and mineral leases must be obtained from the owner or leaseholder.

3. (Britain, Australia) To search for something; to rummage.
   • 1924, John Buchan, The Three Hostages,

     I dined alone and sat after dinner in the smoking-room, for Odell never suggested the library, though I would have given a lot to fossick about that place.

   • 1980, Barbara Pepworth, Early Marks,

     I could have built a better fire myself but I was too cold when we arrived to fossick around for twigs. I went back to the warm car and let Neil and Henry fossick. Playing the dumb broad is profitable too.

   • 2010, Marlish Glorie, The Bookshop on Jacaranda Street,

     He began to fossick again, shifting the bars of soap around until he became aware of something moving behind him.

Derived terms

• fossicking
• fossicker