WOTD - 21 Feb 2006

DOUSE - Extinguish; To put out (a light or fire); drench
CLOUT - Influence; special advantage; pull
CRUSTACEAN - Lobster; any mainly aquatic arthropod usually having a segmented body and chitinous exoskeleton
BOG - Swamp; An area of soft, naturally waterlogged ground
ITEM - Detail; A bit of information; an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
HEARTY - Vigorous; robust
TUN - Barrel; A large cask for liquids, especially wine
HEROD - Biblical King; king of Judea who (according to the New Testament) tried to kill Jesus by ordering the death of all children under age two in Bethlehem (73-4 BC)
HAREM - SERAGLIO; living quarters reserved for wives and concubines and female relatives in a Muslim household
TRUISM - Platitude; A self-evident truth; cliche
SCOUR - Search; To search through or over thoroughly
DOPE - Fool; A stupid person
REEL - revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis; walk as if unable to control one's movements

How did I miss these?:
ABUTS - Adjoins;lie adjacent
ZONE - Sector

Just to re-emphasise:
RANCOUR - Bitterness; a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
ALLURE - Fascination; the power to entice or attract through personal charm
SLIME - Mud; A thick sticky slippery substance
DURABLE - Hard wearing
EUREKA - Cry of triumph