Naut. Also 7–9 earring. [? f. EAR sb.1 + -ING1; possibly however = EARRING. (See quot. 1627.)] ‘Certain small ropes employed to fasten the upper corners of a sail to its yard’ (Adm. Smyth). Also attrib.
1626. Capt. Smith, Accid. Yng. Sea-men, 15. The trusses, the lifts, the earring, the cat harpings. Ibid. (1627), Seaman’s Gram., v. 23–4. The Earing is that part of the bunt rope which at all the foure corners of the saile is left open as it were a ring.
1762–9. Falconer, Shipwr., II. 153. The weather-earings and the lee they past.
1774. Westm. Mag., II. 429/1.
| Some delicate Mizen hath trim’d up our Blue, | |
| For we’re all Macaronies from earing to clue. |
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, iv. 9. Our new second mate used to … have the weather earing passed before there was a man upon the yard.
c. 1860. H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 19. Head earring strops [are] used … For hauling out and securing the head earrings. Ibid., 45. The head earrings [are] handed up to the earing men on the yard. Ibid., 46. The first and second reef earrings.
