[f. KINDLE v.1]
1. The action of KINDLE v.1 in various senses.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 14389 (Gött.). His gode werkes ai to þaim ware Bot soru and kindling of care.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 275/1. Kynlynge, as fyyr, and oþer lyke…, accensio, succensio.
1550. Bale, Eng. Votaries, II. (R.). That the publicacion … of that vyce, gaue kyndelinges to the same in the hartes of ydel persons.
1694. Kettlewell, Comp. Persecuted, 66. To warm ourselves at imaginary Fires … of our own kindling.
1871. Macduff, Mem. Patmos, v. 60. So that there are no kindlings of soul as once there were.
2. Material for lighting a fire. In U.S. usually pl.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, IX. ii. 89. Eftyr the fyre and kyndillyng did he cry.
a. 1568. Wyf of Auchtirmuchty (Bann. MS.), 89. Than he beur kendling to the kill.
1824. Mactaggart, Gallovid. Encycl., 308. If I had got a spunk o’ kennelling on’t it wad hae become my ain.
1878. Mrs. Stowe, Poganuc P., ix. 71. Backlog and forestick were soon piled and kindlings laid.
1889. Jessopp, Coming of Friars, ii. 90. Brakes and waste afforded turf … and kindling which all had a right to carry away.
3. attrib. and Comb., as kindling brand, irons, matter; kindling-coal, a piece of burning coal left banked in overnight in order to start the fire in the morning; so kindling-peat; kindling-wood, dry split wood suitable for lighting fires; wood only fit for lighting fires; hence kindling-wood machine, an apparatus for splitting such wood.
1559. Richmond Wills (Surtees), 134. One pare of tongs,… ij kenling irons, one standing, one lying.
1577. Hellowes, Gueuara’s Chron., 334. Stubble, stalkes, and strawe, and other kindling matter to burne.
1592. Breton, Pilgr. Paradise, D ij. Thou kindling cole of an infernall fire, Die in the ashes, of thy dead desire.
1850. Scoresby, Cheever’s Whaleman’s Adv., vi. (1859), 82. The first whale … ‘knocked them [boats] into kindling wood.’
1851. Stockhardt, Chem. (1852), 105. The reason of its being so commonly used for all kindling purposes.
1883. F. D. Millet, in Harper’s Mag., Oct., 673. The farmer sits by the hour splitting kindling-wood and whittling.
