[f. FOLD v.1 + -ING2.]
1. That folds; that is or can be folded.
1611. Bible, 1 Kings vi. 34. The two leaues of the one doore were folding.
1701. Rowe, Amb. Step-Moth., III. ii. 1178.
| These little cold unnecessary doubts, | |
| Shall fly the circle of my folding arms. |
1863. T. Wright, The History of Almanacs, in Macm. Mag., VII. Jan., 173/1. We find them during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries written on folding sheets of vellum.
1871. R. Ellis, Catullus, lxiv. 307.
| Round them a folding robe their weak limbs aguish hiding, | |
| Fell bright-white to the feet, with a purple border of issue. |
2. esp. in the names of various articles of furniture, appliances, etc. as folding-bed, -board, -boat, -chair, -chase, -joint, -net, -screen, -spoon, -stool, -table. Often hyphened. Also FOLDING-DOOR.
1771. Smollett, Humphry Clinker, Wks. 1806, VI. 179. When the *folding-bed is down, there is just room sufficient to pass between it and the fire.
1422–3. Abingdon Acc. (1892), 98. In Aula: j tabula vocata *voldyngbord.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., I. 899/1. *Folding-boat. One whose frame is collapsible for compact stowage.
1677. Government Venice, 316. Gave the Silver Trumpets, the Parasol, the *Folding-Chair, the Cushions, the Banners, and the White-Wax carried before the Senat in their Publick Ceremonies.
1884. F. M. Crawford, Rom. Singer, I. 24. All sorts of people go to St. Peter’s on Sunday afte noon, but they are mostly foreigners, and bring strange little folding chairs, and arrange themselves to listen to the music as though it were a concert.
1875. Southward, Dict. Typogr., *Folding chases, two or more chases, constructed in such a manner that when laid together they form one large chase.
1842. Gwilt, Encycl. Archit., Gloss., *Folding Joint, a joint made like a rule-joint or the joint of a hinge.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., I. 900/2. *Folding-net. A bird-net shutting upon its prey.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Folding-screen, an upright portable screen, in several leaves or parts, which shuts up, and can be put away when not in use.
1480. Will Don (Somerset Ho.). A *folding spone of siluer.
1340. Ayenb., 239. Ane gratne dyeuel þet zet ope ane *uyealdinde stole.
1705. Hickeringill, Priest-cr., II. iii. 29. One of them … flung a little folding Stool, whereon she sat, at the Dean’s Head.
1502. Bury Wills (Camden), 93. The beste *faldyng table.
1532. Inv., in Noakes, Worc. Mon. & Cathedr. (1866), 157. A voldyng table with two leves.
