Also 8 latting. [f. LATH v. + -ING1.]
1. The action of the vb. LATH.
1544. Churchw. Acc. St Giles, Reading, 70. To a mason for lathyng [an]d dawbyng iiijd.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel (1664), 78. Lathing is worth six pence the yard.
1823. P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., 372. By lathing is meant the nailing up laths … on the ceiling and partitions.
2. concr. Lath-work.
1756. P. Browne, Jamaica, 342. The outward part of the trunk [of Cocoa Nut] is made into lattings.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 612. Lathing, laying, and set … is, when the work, after being lathed, is covered with one coat of lime and hair, and afterwards … a thin and smooth coat spread over it, consisting of lime only, or, as the workmen call it, putty, or set…. Lathing, floating, and set … differs from the foregoing, in having the first coat pricked up to receive the set, which is here called the floating.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Lathing, small wooden bars to fix mortar in; bed staves for the centre-frame of a bedstead, to rest the bedding on.
1889. Anthony’s Photogr. Bull., II. 9. Thin lathing should be tacked on over the paper joints.
1891. Pall Mall Gaz., 14 May, 1/3. The plaster … is spread upon expanded metal lathing.
3. Comb.: lathing hammer, † hatchet, a lather’s hammer with a cutting peen for shortening laths; lathing saw, a saw for cutting iron laths; lathing staff (see quot. 1703).
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 249. A *Lathing Hammer … with which the Laths are nailed on with its head, and with its Edge they cut them to any length.
1797. Trial of J. Dobbins, at Worcester, 3. A *lathing hatchet.
1890. W. J. Gordon, Foundry, 223. *Lathing saws.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron. (1807–8), II. 736. Hir husband [Iohn Tiler] … came running home with his *lathing staffe in his hand.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 248. A Lathing Staff of Iron, in the form of a Cross, to stay the cross Laths while they are nailed to the long Laths, and also to clinch the Nails.
