Origin: 1640–50; orig. (now obsolete) to stupefy, make drowsy; compare Scots,N England dialectdozened,Middle English (Scots) dosnyt, dosinnit stupefied, dazed; akin to Old Norsedūsa rest, Swedish dialectdusa doze, slumber, Middle Low Germandusen to be thoughtless; cf. daze
1640s, probably from a Scandinavian source (cf. Dan. dose "to make dull," Swed. dial. dusa "to sleep"); related to O.E. dysig "foolish" (see dizzy). May have existed in dialect earlier than attested date.