Spread via the Lower Rhineland from Middle Low German dōse and Middle Dutch dose. Probably from Latin dosis (“dose”), with semantic shift "a small amount (dose) of medicine" > "a container of such a dose of medicine" > "containers in general".

• IPA^(key): /ˈdoːzə/

• Audio:

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Dose f (genitive Dose, plural Dosen, diminutive Döschen n or Döslein n)

1. box (container made from metal or plastic, less often wood)
2. tin, can (air-tight container for food)

   Synonym: Büchse

3. (informal, often diminutive) vagina, vulva

• “Dose” in Duden online
• “Dose” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

From German Low German Dose, Döse, Dös, "moor", "light-coloured layer in a peat moor", or from its source, Middle Low German dose (“light-coloured peat”). Perhaps related to German Dost.

Some sources have suggested a possible connection to dösig, but if there is any connection, it is not obvious.

Dose f (genitive Dose, plural Dosen)

1. a (small) moor in northwestern Germany (now chiefly in placenames)

   Bockholter Dose, Esterweger Dose, Ginger Dose, Molberger Dose, Speller Dose, Staverner Dose, Sumpfmoor Dose, Tinner Dose

   • 1928, August Kleene, Die Strassen Oldenburgs, geographisch betrachtet, page 7:

     Kesselmooren (Dose-Moor bei Molbergen, Elsterfeld bei Elsten).

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1929, Josef Johann Böckenhoff-Grewing, Landwirtschaft und bauerntum im kreise Hümmling, page 50:

     Geestrücken das Tal ein und treten oft unmittelbar an das Niedermoor heran. Das Mittelradde-Marka-Tal. Auf der Wasserscheide im Mittelradde-Marka-Tal liegt ein Moosmoor, eine Dose.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

• w:de:Dose (Landschaftsform)