[f. JOIN v.1 + -ING1.]
1. The action of the verb JOIN, or the fact of being joined. a. Connection, combination, union.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVI. xix. (Bodl. MS.), 172 b/1. Glew … is good to Ioynynge of schippis.
1540. Act 32 Hen. VIII., c. 30 § 1. Ioynyng of issues, and other pleadynges.
1620. T. Granger, Div. Logike, 178. Syntaxis is a part of Grammar, that teacheth the true joyning of words together.
1726. Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., I. 9/2. The joyning of those two Arches, intersecting each other, makes an Angle.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Aristocracy, Wks. (Bohn), II. 77. Time and law have made the joining and moulding perfect.
b. The action of coming together in conflict; engagement, encounter. Also joining of battle.
c. 1400. Rowland & O., 454. Thies kene knyghtis to-gedir gan glide,… theyre Ioynynge was so harde that tyde.
1549. Compl. Scot., To Rdr. 14. Befor the iunyng of ane battel.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 352. That his souldiers should in the first ioyning with the enemie sing certaine Hymnes.
1618. Bolton, Florus, II. vi. (1636), 96–7. An huge earthquake at the joyning of the battels … had forewarned our rash General of the event.
c. The occupation or work of a joiner; joinery.
1680. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., xi. § 3 (1683), I. 193. The Office of Smoothing Plains in Joyning and Carpentry.
2. quasi-concr. a. An instance of such action or state; the place where two things or parts of something join or are joined; a junction, joint.
1382. Wyclif, Col. ii. 19. Al the body by bondis and ioynyngis to gidere vndirmynistrid and maad.
1483. Cath. Angl., 199/2. A Iunynge, compages, compago, iunctura.
1530. Palsgr., 235/1. Ioyning of bordes, joincture.
1611. Bible, 1 Chron. xxii. 3. Dauid prepared yron in abundance for the nailes for the doores of the gates, and for the ioynings.
1764. Reid, Inquiry, vi. § 22 (1801), 395. In the steeple … the joinings of the stones are clearly perceptible.
1859. Gullick & Timbs, Paint., 149–50, note. These joinings are unavoidable: ‘These divisions … are among the tests of fresco painting properly so called.’
b. Something that joins or connects two things; a piece forming a junction.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, III. 97. Eke the halle and euery boure, Wythouten peces or ioynynges.
1816. Kirby & Sp., Entomol. (1843), I. 424. Each group connected with those next it by slight joinings of wax.
3. attrib. or Comb., as joining-place (in quot. = place for joining battle); † joining-work = joiner’s work; see JOINER 2 b.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, X. viii. 47. Formast he bownys to the ioynyng place.
1562. Richmond Wills & Inv. (Surtees, 1853), 162. One counter of joynyng work.
