fossick

A child fossicks for interesting stones in a dry riverbed.

Definition

1. Verb (intransitive, informal, chiefly Australian and New Zealand):
   • To search or rummage: "fossick" means to search for something by rummaging or turning over items, often in a haphazard or thorough manner.
   • To prospect for gold or minerals: Specifically, it refers to searching for gold or other valuable minerals, often in abandoned mines or by sifting through debris.

Usage Examples

• General searching:

  • She fossicked through the old box in the attic, hoping to find some antique jewelry. (She rummaged through the contents in a searching manner.)
  • The children fossicked among the rocks on the beach for interesting shells. (They searched by turning over and examining the rocks.)

• Prospecting for gold:

  • He spent the weekend fossicking for gold in the dry creek bed. (He searched for gold by sifting through sediment.)
  • The old-timers used to fossick in the tailings of the mine for leftover nuggets. (They prospected in discarded mining waste.)

Advanced Usage

• "to fossick around": to search or explore in a casual or unsystematic way.

  • We fossicked around the abandoned farmhouse, curious about its history. (We explored the area without a specific goal.)

• "to fossick for something": to search specifically for an item or resource.

  • She fossicked for rare books in the second-hand shop. (She searched diligently for rare books.)

Variants and Related Words

• Fossicker (noun): a person who fossicks, especially a gold prospector.

  • The fossicker patiently sifted through gravel in the river. (The prospector searched for gold.)

• Fossicking (noun or gerund): the act of searching or prospecting.

  • Fossicking is a popular hobby in some rural areas of Australia. (The activity of searching for minerals or items.)

Synonyms

• Rummage: to search by moving things around untidily.

  • He rummaged through the drawer for a pen. (He searched by disturbing the contents.)

• Scrounge: to search for something by looking in various places, often with effort.

  • She scrounged for spare change in her bag. (She searched with some difficulty.)

• Prospect: to search for gold or other valuable minerals.

  • They prospected for gold in the hills. (They searched for mineral deposits.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Fossick about/around: to search in a casual or exploratory manner.
  • We fossicked about the old shed for tools. (We searched around without a fixed plan.)

Related Idioms

• Fossick through: to search thoroughly by sifting or examining items.
  • He fossicked through the pile of papers for the missing document. (He searched meticulously through the papers.)