[f. FLY v.1 + -ING1.]
1. The action of the vb. FLY, in various senses.
1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV. (an. 9), 209 b. The fame was spred of kynge Edwardes flyenge.
c. 1565. Lindsay of Pitscottie, Chron. Scot. (1728), 113. Great slaughter was made of the King’s Men that stood about the House, in the Flyings of the Timber.
1605. Shaks., Lear, II. iv. 91.
| Meere fetches, | |
| The images of reuolt and flying off. |
a. 1679. T. Goodwin, Obj. Justifying Faith, II. ii. Wks. 1697, IV. II. 76. Faith is expressed by coming to him, which implies not so much a persuasion that man’s sins are forgiven by God, as having recourse to him to forgive them, as a flying to him that is gracious, and chosen by God on purpose.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 147. The flying off, or else winding of these Steps will vary their places according as you design the first Ascent.
1801. Strutt, Sports & Past., I. ii. 22–3. The sport was very highly esteemed by the Anglo-Saxon nobility; and the training and flying of hawks became one of the essentials in the education of a young man of rank.
2. concr. in pl. (see quot. 1893.)
1888. R. Beaumont, Woollen & Worsted Cloth Manuf., 57. The fancies, for a like cause, have in such cases to be run slowly, otherwise they cast off a lot of loose fibres as ‘flyings’.
1893. Labour Commission, Gloss., Flyings. Short fibres thrown out from the wool on to the sides of the carding machine whilst in motion.
3. attrib. as flying-machine; also flying country, county (Hunting), one that affords opportunity for long unbroken runs; flying fence, one that must be taken at a flying leap; flying time, the time when a hawk is in condition to be flown.
1615. Latham, Falconry (1633), 40. You cease & leaue off from all those practises obseruations of the flying time, and your onely pretence and purpose is to giue rest & good food vnto your Hawke.
1856. Whyte Melville, Kate Cov., xii. 143. The Heavy-top hounds are an establishment such as, I am given to understand, is not usually kept in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, and other so-called ‘flying counties.’
1881. L. Wagner, The Pantomimes and All about Them, 57. The manipulation of flying machines, or other contrivances whereby [etc.].
1883. Standard, 19 May, 3/3. Viscount looked fitted for a flying country.
1883. E. Pennell-Elmhirst, The Cream of Leicestershire, 110. Honest flying fences, big enough to extend a good hunter, and turf as springy as a diving-board, with hounds running as fast as if they realised the honour of going over such ground.
