vbl. sb. [f. FURNISH v. + -ING1.]
1. The action of the vb. FURNISH, in senses of the vb.; an instance of this. Also gerundial with omission of in.
1496–7. Act 12 Hen. VII., c. 13. Preamble, The behouful chargis and expencis for the fornysshyng and contynuaunce of the same armyes.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cclxxxi. 421. For ye furnysshyng of his vowe.
1668. Lond. Gaz., No. 237/2. The Queen of Swadeland … for whom a Palace is already furnishing.
1691. T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., 35. Forbidding the whole use of any other Rudder-Irons upon Lead-sheathed Ships, than of this Company’s furnishing.
1851. Carlyle, Sterling, I. x. (1872), 61. And so a ship was hired, or purchased, in the Thames; due furnishings began to be executed in it.
1861. M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 47. Every master was under an obligation, the sme as the natives, to keep an iron helmet and harness, and all arms pertaining to a complete furnishing for war.
attrib. 1887. Daily News, 7 Feb., 2/5. General furnishing goods.
b. concr. A sum of money furnished; a supply.
1833. Alison, Hist. Europe (1849–50), II. lxxvi. § 22. 432. The war … cost … in subsidies or furnishings to foreign powers, ten millions four hundred thousand pounds.
2. Decoration.
1594. Carew, Tasso (1881), 63. Those two who thus in one conioyned goe And parrell white, white haue their furnishing.
1882. The Garden, XXI. 3 June, 394/3. It [the Fruiting Duckweed] is now largely used in London for what is termed ‘furnishing.’
1895. Daily News, 8 April, 6/7. Hats provided for young girls have a floral furnishing.
3. pl. † a. Unimportant appendages; mere externals. b. Articles of furniture; apparatus, etc. c. (See quot. 1892.)
1605. Shaks., Lear, III. i. 29. Something deeper, Whereof (perchance) these are but furnishings.
1858. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., II. v. (1865), I. 76. Now a Penitentiary, with treadmill and the other furnishings.
1877. Mar. M. Grant, Sun-Maid, ii. The furnishings were small and dainty.
1885. Law Times, LXXX. 113/1. All the furnishings of an hotel.
1891. Daily News, 23 Jan., 5/5. Carpets from Fontainebleau, furnishings from Saint Cloud.
1892. Labour Commission Gloss., Furnishings, Scotch term, equivalent to the English term ‘grindery’; that is, rivets, sprigs, &c., used by the men to fasten the bottoms of boots to the uppers; and also the materials used in the process of finishing.
