† Earlings

sb. pl. Obs. [? f. EAR sb.¹ + -LING.] Possibly a transl. of Fr. oreillettes ‘wires about a woman’s head’ (Miège Fr. Dict., 1701); cf. Ear-wires.

1660.  Rates, in Act Tonnage & Poundage 12 Chas. II., 16. Earlings, the Groce cont. 12 dozen, jl.

1721.  C. King, Brit. Merch., I. 290. Catlings, Earlings, Outnall Thred, Ticking, Copperas [in list of Imports from France].