[f. BRANCH v.]
1. The action of throwing out branches, or of diverging in the manner of branches; ramification; concr. a collection of branches. Also fig.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, V. 71. With diuers orders of braunchynges they embrace it.
1684. T. Burnet, Th. Earth, I. 232. We have before compar’d the branchings of these rivers … to the ramifications of the arteries in the body.
1724. Watts, Logic, 348. Finish your whole argument with as few inferior branchings as reason will admit.
1882. Vines, Sachs’ Bot., 207. Dichotomous branching is frequently repeated in one and the same plane.
2. The action of decorating with flowers or foliage, in embroidery, gilding, engraving, etc.
1622. Heylin, Cosmogr., III. (1673), 53/2. The branching of Satins … being amongst many others, one of their Inventions.
