[f. KILL v. + -ING1.] The action of the vb. KILL, in various senses.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 6635. Þere was kyllyng of knyghtis, crusshyng of helmys.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., III. i. 15. I beleeue we must leaue the killing out, when all is done.
1607. Hieron, Wks., I. 208. All delaies are euen a very killing to the soule.
1737. Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1740), II. 247. It is a very odd and out-of-the-way Notion, which the Vulgar entertain, with relation to (what they call) killing of Quick-silver.
1748. Anson’s Voy., III. iii. 325. The killing and preparing of provisions.
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer (1891), 306. Killing is not the fashion much in this country.
b. attrib. and Comb., as killing-clothes, -floor, -ground, -house, -tackle, -yard; also killing-sheep, a sheep intended or fit to be killed for food; killing-time, (a) the time at which an animal is (fit to be) killed; (b) in Sc. Hist., part of the year 1685, during which many covenanters were put to death (by later writers extended to 1683–5, or even the whole period 1679–88); killing-value, the value of stock when killed for food.
1828. Moir, Mansie Wauch, v. 40. Out flew the flesher in his *killing-claiths.
1855. Whitman, Leaves Grass, Songs of Myself, 12. The butcher-boy puts off his killing-clothes.
1896. Kipling, Seven Seas, Rhyme Three Sealers, 70. He ’ll lie down on the *killing-grounds.
1578. Nottingham Rec. (1889), IV. 180. No butcher shall put into ye medowes aboue fiue score *killinge shepe.
1678. W. Strong, Disc. Two Covenants, 296. But it is only to fat them up unto the day of slaughter, to fill their bellies, that the fatting may go before the *killing-time.
1687. A. Shields, Hind let loose, 200. In the beginning of this killing-time, as the Country calls it; the first Author & Authorizer of all these Mischiefs, Charles II. was removed by death.
1732. P. Walker, Life Cargill, 90. He was taken in November 1684, the two slaughter years of Killing-Time being begun in the 15th day of August before.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xviii. It was in killing time, when the plowers were drawing alang their furrows on the back of the Kirk of Scotland.
1842. J. Aiton, Domest. Econ. (1857), 236. The pig … will be about a year old at killing time.
