from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Fossick \Fos"sick\, v. i. [Dial. E. fossick, fossuck, a
troublesome person, fussick to potter over one's work,
fussock to bustle about; of uncertain origin. Cf. {Fuss}.]
1. (Mining) To search for gold by picking at stone or earth
or among roots in isolated spots, picking over abandoned
workings, etc.; hence, to steal gold or auriferous matter
from another's claim. [Australia]
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
2. To search about; to rummage.
A man who has fossicked in nature's byways. --D.
Macdonald.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]