Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BROWSE, v.t. [s as z. Gr. βρωσκω, to eat or browse, βρωσις, food, but probably these words may be from sprouts; Arm. brouz, brouez, or broust, sprouts, buds; Fr. brout, brouter; Arm. brousta or brouza, to browse. It is allied to brush; W. brwys, luxuriant growth; rhwys, vigor, luxuriance, wantonness.]

To eat the ends of branches of trees and shrubs or the young shoots, as cattle, or deer. – Spenser. Shak.