doze1

[dohz] /doʊz/
verb (used without object), dozed, dozing.
1.
to sleep lightly or fitfully.
2.
to fall into a light sleep unintentionally (often followed by off):
He dozed off during the sermon.
3.
to sleep for a short time; nap.
4.
to be dull or half asleep.
verb (used with object), dozed, dozing.
5.
to pass or spend (time) in drowsiness (often followed by away):
He dozed away the afternoon.
noun
6.
a light or fitful sleep; nap.
Origin
1640-50; orig. (now obsolete) to stupefy, make drowsy; compare Scots, N England dialect dozened, Middle English (Scots) dosnyt, dosinnit stupefied, dazed; akin to Old Norse dūsa rest, Swedish dialect dusa doze, slumber, Middle Low German dusen to be thoughtless; cf. daze
Synonyms
6. snooze, siesta, catnap, forty winks.
British Dictionary definitions for doze off

doze

/dəʊz/
verb (intransitive)
1.
to sleep lightly or intermittently
2.
(often foll by off) to fall into a light sleep
noun
3.
a short sleep
Derived Forms
dozer, noun
Word Origin
C17: probably from Old Norse dūs lull; related to Danish döse to drowse, Swedish dialect dusa slumber
Word Origin and History for doze off

doze

v.

1640s, probably from a Scandinavian source (cf. Old Norse dusa "to doze," Danish døse "to make dull," Swedish dialectal dusa "to sleep"); related to Old English dysig "foolish" (see dizzy). May have existed in dialect earlier than attested date. Related: Dozed; dozing. As a noun, from 1731.

Idioms and Phrases with doze off

doze off

Fall into a light sleep, as in Watching the ballet always made her doze off. [ Mid-1800s ]