[f. WHEEL v. + -ING2.] That wheels, in various senses.
a. Turning like a wheel; revolving about an axis; rotating, rolling, whirling, swirling. Also fig. of a recurring or ‘revolving’ period of time. b. Mil. (See WHEEL v. 3.) Wheeling flank, the outward flank in wheeling, which describes the largest curve. c. Turning round or aside; changing direction. d. Moving, or executed as a movement, in a circle or similar curve; circling. In first quot., wandering about, roving. e. Moving on wheels.
a. 1628. Milton, Vac. Exerc., 34. Where the deep transported mind may soare Above the wheeling poles.
1635. L. Foxe, N.-W. Fox, 187. Wheeling streames like edie tides.
1636. W. Cartwright, Royal Slave, V. ii. Hemm’d in on every side With Beauties, which his wheeling eye runs o’re All in a Minute.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., IV. ii. With Patience then I’ll wait each wheeling Year.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., IX. 1274. What arm Almighty put these wheeling globes In motion?
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxxiii. The deep and wheeling stream of the river.
b. 1796. Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1813), 41. An officer or under officer from the wheeling flank … of each squadron.
1833. Reg. Instr. Cavalry, I. 23. The outward wheeling man … lengthens his step.
c. 1716. Pope, Iliad, V. 53. As he to Flight his wheeling Car addrest.
a. 1769. Falconer, Shipwr., III. 388. The pilots … Still with the wheeling stern their force repel.
1882. ‘Ouida,’ Bimbi, vi. 186. ‘The little tigress!’ he thought as he endeavoured to soothe his fretting and wheeling beast, which was young and only half-broken.
d. 1604. Shaks., Oth., I. i. 137. Tying her Dutie, Beautie, Wit, and Fortunes In an extrauagant, and wheeling Stranger.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., 263. We are faine to use a wheeling-stride, and go as it were in orbe.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 803. Dark as a Cloud they make a wheeling Flight.
1730–46. Thomson, Autumn, 487. Happy he who tops the wheeling chase.
1805–6. Cary, Dante, Inf., III. 93. Around whose eyes glared wheeling flames.
1827. Keble, Chr. Y., 20th Sunday after Trin. The wheeling kite’s wild solitary cry.
1905. Sir F. Treves, Other Side of Lantern, II. xxii. 142. Pigeons sweep round this square in wheeling flocks.
e. 1596. Sir J. Davies, Orchestra, cxv. A wheeling Cart.
1637. Whiting, Albino & Bellama, 21. Goe harnesse straight my wheeling chaire.
1773. Lady Mary Coke, Jrnl., 22 Aug. (1896), IV. 225. He was placed in a wheeling chair, as he has not the use of his legs.
1895. Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Evening Gaz., 1 Aug., 7/6. Grooms on [bicycle] wheels must follow their mistresses, as they did on horseback. In a short time the lady’s maid will have to include wheeling with her other accomplishments to secure a situation.
1902. Brit. Med. Jrnl., 12 April, 907/2. A new stretcher, which could be used either as a light portable or as a wheeling stretcher.
Hence Wheelingly adv. on wheels. rare.
1611. Florio, A ruóta, wheelingly.
