1. searched for gold or gemstones by digging or sifting through earth or gravel
Usage: Australian/New Zealand
2. searched through something in a casual or unsystematic way
Usage: Australian/New Zealand; informal

Examples

• They fossicked for opals in the old mining area.
• He fossicked through the creek bed looking for gold nuggets.
• She fossicked around in her bag for her keys.
• The tourists fossicked for sapphires at the gemstone fields.
• We fossicked through the antique shop for hours.
• The children fossicked in the rock pools at low tide.