[f. FOLD v.2]

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  1.  The action of folding sheep; an instance of this. Also concr. Manure dropped in the fold.

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c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 168/2. Foldynge or puttynge in felde incaulacio.

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1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 599. We see againe, that the Foldings of Sheepe helpe Ground, as well by their Warmth, as by their Compost.

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1794.  Burns, Hark! the Mavis.

        Hark, the mavis’ e’ening sang
Sounding Clouden’s woods amang;
Then a-faulding let us gang.

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1855.  Browning, Love among the Ruins, v.

        And I know, while thus the quiet-coloured eve
  Smiles to leave
To their folding, all our many-tinkling fleece
  In such peace.

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  2.  attrib. and Comb., as folding-hour, -time; also folding-slap (Sc.), the gate of the fold; folding-star, a star rising at folding-time, an evening-star.

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1803.  Leyden, Scenes of Inf., I. 291.

        When evening brings the merry *folding-hours,
And sun-eyed daisies close their winking flowers.

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1786.  Burns, And Maun I still.

        The sheep-herd steeks his *faulding slap,
  And o’er the moorlands whistles shill;
Wi’ wild, unequal, wand’ring step,
  I meet him on the dewy hill.

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1746–7.  Collins, Ode to Evening, Poems (1771), 72.

        For when thy *folding star arising shows
His paly circlet.

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1822.  Shelley, Hellas, 221.

        So fleet, so faint, so fair,
The powers of earth and air
Fled from the folding star of Bethlehem.

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1876.  Whitby Gloss., *Fauding-time, the time when the cattle are housed or folded.

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