[f. WELTER v.1 + -ING1.]
1. The action of turning or twisting the body about (on the ground), rolling (in the mire), wallowing (in sin), etc. Now rare or Obs.
1448–9. Metham, Amoryus & Cleopes, 1631. This lyoun … Wypt on the gres hys blody mowth; and in hys welteryng Made alle blody Cleopes kerchyff in hys wypyng.
1520. M. Nisbet, N. T. in Scots, 2 Pet. ii. 22. The hound turnit agane to his spewing, and a sow [that] is weschin in weltring [Wycl. walwyng] in fenn.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., I. 206. All kind of superfluitie, riot, and weltring in pleasures.
† 2. The action of rolling or turning round; unstable condition; political agitation. Obs.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., clxiii. To se the sudayn weltering Of that Ilk quhele [of Fortune].
a. 1586. Sidney, Astr. & Stella, Sonn. xxx. If in the Scottish Court be weltering yet.
1588. in Rep. Commiss. Univ. Scot. (1837), III. 193. In this confused tyme (quhen all folkis ar loukand to the weltering of the warld).
3. The rolling and tossing (of waves); the surging (of water, the sea). Also fig.
1805. Wordsw., Prelude, VI. 138. The surpassing life … incapable of change, Nor touched by welterings of passion.
1827. Pollok, Course T., V. 595. And oft in dreams, the … sinner … heard the weltering of the waves of wrath.
1851. Trench, Poems, 73. ’Mid the long weltering of the dreariest surge.
1867. Morris, Jason, IV. 681. A figure standing, with wide wings of gold, Upright, amid the weltering of the sea.
