[f. CAST v. + -ING2.]
1. That casts, in various senses of the vb.
a. trans. Of a bow, etc.: Throwing, shooting (see also quot. 1483). b. intr. Of bees: Swarming.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 26020. Þis reuth es like a castand gin.
1483. Cath. Angl., 55. Castynge as a bowe, flexibilis.
1485. Caxton, Higden, V. xiv. (1527), 201. A wonder fell man and ferre casting.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph., I. (Arb.), 29. Except they be … vnbent like a good casting bowe.
1565–78. Cooper, Thesaurus, Acer arcus, a strong or quicke casting bowe.
1627. Drayton, Agincourt, 28. Like casting Bees that they arise in swarmes.
2. That turns the scale, deciding, decisive (see CAST v. 55), as in casting voice, vote, weight.
1622. in Heath, Grocers’ Comp. (1869), 101. There can be in a Court but one casting voyce or ball.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 231. Which … containe within themselves the casting act, and a power to command the conclusion.
1692. Bentley, Boyle Lect., iv. 141. Even the Herbs of the Field give a casting vote against Atheism.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 17, ¶ 3. The President to have the casting Voice.
1735. Pope, Prol. Sat., 177. That casting-weight pride adds to emptiness.
1828. D’Israeli, Chas. I., I. vi. 160. The alliance of England was a casting weight in the government of the world.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 783. The question was decided against the prisoner by the casting vote of the Chancellor.
