[f. CLOSE v.]
1. The action of the vb. CLOSE, in various senses; shutting; enclosing; drawing together; ending, etc.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xvii. (1495), 122. Somme letters ben sownyd … by closyng of the lyppes.
1530. Palsgr., 206/1. Closyng of a ground with hedge or pale, closture.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., III. ii. 133. The closing of some glorious day.
1625. Markham, Souldiers Accid., 16. The Opening and Closing either of Rankes or Fyles.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 295. The closing of the joints.
1848. Mill, Pol. Econ., I. 132. The closing of the continental ports against our manufactures.
b. Also with advbs.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Closture de hayes, a closing in with hedges.
1675. Brooks, Gold. Key, Wks. 1867, V. 320. I must hasten to a closing up of this particular.
1819. Wordsw., Waggoner, I. 266. At closing-in of day.
c. spec. A coming to terms, agreement, or union.
1614. Bp. Hall, Heaven upon Earth, § 4. 111. Faire spoken at the first closing.
1697. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., II. (1709), 57. Pride is so unsociable a Vice … that there is no closing with it.
1837. Thackeray, Ravenswing, i. This sudden closing with him.
† 2. That which closes or makes fast, a fastening.
1382. Wyclif, Baruch vi. 17. Prestes oft kepen the dores with closingis [Vulg. clausuris] and lockis.
1500–25. Vergilius, in Thoms, Prose Rom. (1858), II. 34. Virgilius put a waye the closynge and reseyued the emperour into his castell.
† 3. An enclosed place, an enclosure. Obs.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. clii. (1495), 704. Wythin the closynge or the clausure of the temple.
c. 1665. Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1846), 233. The foot should march a private way through the closings.
4. attrib., as in closing-fat (vat), -step (Mil.); closing-hammer, a hammer used for closing the seams of iron plates.
[1454. in Rogers, Agric. & Prices, III. 555/1. 1 closing fat, 16/.]
1833. Regul. & Instr. Cavalry, I. 19. The side or closing step is performed from the halt in quick time.
