Amer. [f. WRECK sb.1 3.]
1. The action or business of salvaging a wreck or wrecks.
1804. [see 2].
1868. H. D. Grant, Rep. Wrecking in Bahamas, 35. Wrecking has become a regular vocation for a considerable portion of the population.
2. attrib., esp. in sense ‘used for, or in connection with, relating to, salvaging wreck,’ as wrecking car, crane, outfit, plump, train; also wrecking law, operation.
1804. M‘Kinnon, Tour West Indies, ix. 144. Effecting an immediate escape in a wrecking-vessel from this wild and inhospitable spot.
1868. H. D. Grant, Rep. Wrecking in Bahamas, 36. Copies of abstract of the wrecking laws. Ibid., 62. The harbour-master…, who formerly commanded a wrecker and now owns licensed wrecking vessels.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 644/1. Fairbairn’s traveling-crane … is adapted for a wrecking-crane for railroad use. Ibid., 2821/1. Wrecking-car, one carrying devices for removing obstructions from the track, such as wrecked cars or locomotives. Ibid., 2821/2. Wrecking-pump, a steam-pump specially designed for pumping the water out of bilged or sunken vessels, in order to raise them.
1891. Harper’s Weekly, 19 Sept., 914/2. A wrecking train soon removed the débris.
1898. Engineering Mag., XVI. 68. The wrecking outfit should be immediately available. Ibid. Wrecking operations.
b. In sense ‘engaged in salvaging wreck or wrecks,’ as wrecking company, crew, expedition.
1851. Rovings in Pacific, I. 149. Bound on a wrecking Expedition.
1878. B. Harte, Man on Beach, 33. A wrecking crew of curlew hastily manned the uprooted tree that tossed wearily beyond the bar.
1891. in Leeds Mercury, 19 Sept., 12. Captain Merritt, of the Merritt Wrecking Company.
