[f. FLOWER v. + -ING1.]
1. The action of the vb. FLOWER in various senses.
a. The putting forth of flowers or blossom; coming into flower, blooming.
1629. Parkinson (title), Paradisus in Sole … or a choise Garden of … Flowers, with their Nature, place of Birth, time of flowring [etc.].
1865. Kingsley, Herew. (1866), I. xv. 273. Torfrida regretted the lengthening of the days, and the flowering of the primroses.
1882. The Garden, XXI. 21 Jan., 34/1. Any dwarf growing annuals would also answer for a second flowering.
fig. 1865. M. Arnold, Ess. Crit., iv. 119. She placed her whole joy in the flowering of this gifted nature.
b. The action of adorning with flowers, or with figures of flowers.
1739. J. Coats, Dict. Her. (ed. 2), s.v. Fleury, Flory, Fleurty, Floretty, all which, as Gibbon observes, amount but to Flower’d, and are but corrupt Expressions to the same end, tho’ some will have it, that they signify different Ways of Flowering.
1848. Craig, Flowering … the act of adorning with flowers.
2. concr. or quasi-concr. † a. collect. Blossoms. † b. Effervescence; frothiness. † c. Efforescence or superficial growth. d. pl. Figures of flowers. e. (See quot. 1867).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 10726 (Cott.).
| Þis wand suld fluring bere | |
| þat suld o rote o iesse spring. |
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 312. An Extreme Clarification doth spread the Spirits so Smooth, as they become Dull, and the Drinke dead, which ought to haue a little Flouring.
1634. T. Johnson, Parey’s Chirurg., III. iii. 88. A certain drie flouring, or production of the true skin.
1864. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt. (1865), IV. XII. vii. 171. After washing, the King rose for an instant; had his dressing-gown, a grand yellow silky article with silver flowerings, pulled off, and flung round his loins.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Flowering, the phenomenon observed usually in connection with the spawning of fish, at the distance of four leagues from shore. The water appears to be saturated with a thick jelly, filled with the ova of fish.
3. attrib.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVI. 31.
| Þe flesshe is a fel wynde · and in flourynge-tyme | |
| Þorw lykyng and lustes · so loude he gynneth blowe. |
1870. Hooker, Stud. Flora, 300. Primula scotica … has three flowering seasons.
1879. O. W. Holmes, Motley, i. 5. Waked up somewhat after the usual flowering-time of authorship to find himself a very agreeable and cordially welcomed writer.
