[f. YAWN v. + -ING1.] The action of the verb YAWN.
1. The action of opening the mouth wide, esp. involuntarily from drowsiness.
c. 725. Corpus Gloss. (Hessels), B 23. Barritus, ʓenung.
c. 1050. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 412/5. Garrulitas, ʓeonung.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 536/1. Ȝanynge, or gapynge wythe the mowthe…, hiatus.
1552. Huloet, Yauninge, oscedo.
1581. Mulcaster, Positions, xv. 69. Those … that be cumbred with much gaping & yawning.
1605. Willet, Hexapla Gen., 353. Yawning in trauaile to women is mortall.
1707. Prior, Sat. Poets, 200. Your Yawning prompts me to give o’er.
1755. Strype, Stow’s Surv., II. 774/1. Near to this, is a large handsome Monument, erected to the Memory of James Cooper of this Parish, Gent. remarkable for his loud Yawning during the Time of Divine Service.
1838. W. C. Harris, Narr. Exped. S. Africa, 15. [They] were very slow in taking the hint conveyed by his violent yawnings, that he was anxious to retire to rest.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 98. Abnormal visceral or reflex movements such as paroxysmal hurry of the heart, or of respiration—sneezings, yawnings, or hiccoughings.
† 2. Longing after (something). Obs.
1634. Rainbow, Labour (1635), 33. Ambitious yawning after outward dignitie and honour.
3. The action of opening wide.
1820. W. Irving, Skeich Bk. (1859), 7. The vawning of a seam [in a boat].
