Forms: 3–5 lenge, 4 leyng, 4–5 leenge, 4–7 lyng(e, linge, 4– ling. [ME. lenge, lienge, later ling(e (whence, according to Hatz.-Darm., F. lingue); cf. early mod.Du. lenghe, linghe (now leng), G. leng, länge, lange, ON. langa, Sw. långa, Norw. langa, longa, Da. længe. Connection with LONG a. is probable.]
1. A long slender gadoid fish, Molva vulgaris or Lota molva, inhabiting the seas of northern Europe. It is largely used for food (usually either salted, or split and dried). † Old ling: salted ling. Organ ling: see ORGAN.
c. 1300. Havelok, 832. Ne he ne mouthe on the se take Neyther lenge, ne thornbake.
1324–5. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 14. In … ij Lenges empt’, iiijs. viijd. Ibid. (1377), 46. In j Turbutt et j leyng emp. xs. vjd.
1425. in Kennett, Par. Antiq. (1818), II. 255. Cum i viridi lynge, cum iii congers.
c. 1430. Two Cookery-bks., 43. Nym Milwel or lenge, þat is wel y-wateryd.
1459. in Paston Lett., I. 490. Item, ij saltyng tubbes. Item, viij. lynges.
1573. Tusser, Husb., lvii. (1878), 133. Ling, Saltfish and Herring, for Lent to provide.
1599. B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Hum., IV. iii. (1600), L 4 b. Hee lookes like … a drie Poule of Ling vpon Easter-eue, that has furnisht the table all Lent.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, III. ii. 12, 13. Our old Lings, and our Isbels a’th Country, are nothing like your old Ling and your Isbels a’th Court.
1615. Markham, Eng. Housew., II. ii. (1668), 78. Take the jole of the best Ling that is not much watered.
1619. Pasquil’s Palin. (1877), 152. When Flesh doth bid adue for divers weekes, And leaves old Ling to be his deputie.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, viii. (1662), I. 23. Ling, that Noble Fish, corrival in his Joule with the surloin of Beef.
1667. Pepys, Diary, 20 March. Had a good dinner of ling and herring pie.
1712. A. Van Leeuwenhoek, in Phil. Trans., XXVII. 409. I stood by a Fishmongers Shop, whilst they were laying their dry Ling in the Water to soften it.
1747. Mrs. Glasse, Cookery, ix. 91. Old ling, which is the best Sort of Salt Fish, lay it in Water twelve Hours, then [etc.].
1802. Bingley, Anim. Biog. (1813), III. 22. The Ling in the neighbourhood of Iceland are so bad, that [etc.].
1823. Lamb, Elia, Ser. II. Rejoic. New Yr. He … protested there was no faith in dried ling.
1836. Yarrell, Brit. Fishes, II. 182. The most usual length of the Ling is from three to four feet.
2. Applied in America, New Zealand, etc., to other fishes, as the burbot (Lota maculosa), the cultus-cod (Ophiodon elongatus), etc. (see quots.).
1857. [see LAWYER 5].
1885. Riverside Nat. Hist. (1888), III. 212. In eastern Florida it [Elacate canada] is called the sergeant-fish, and along the western coast of the peninsula it is known as the ling or snooks. Ibid., 260. One [fish] living in the sea round New Zealand (Genypterus blacodes) is known as the ling or cloudy bay-cod.
1888. [see CULTUS-COD].
1898. Morris, Austral Eng., Ling … In New Zealand and Tasmania, it is applied to Genypterus blacodes, Forst.; also called Cloudy Bay Cod. Lotella marginata, Macl., is called Ling, in New South Wales.
3. attrib., as ling fish (cf. cod-fish), fishery, hook, pie.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., II. xvi. H vj b. Grete foyson of *ling fysshe, and haburden.
c. 1526. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 224. Sir, ye spoke with me that you wold have had som good ling fish.
1836. Chamb. Jrnl., Dec., 388. Spain presents a good … market for dried cod and ling fish.
1798. Malthus, Popul. (1878), 222. The *ling fishery.
1896. Lydekker, Roy. Nat. Hist., V. 436. The ling-fishery is an important industry, large quantities of these fish being cured and dried.
1822. Hibbert, Descr. Shetld. Isl., 510. The lines are fitted with *ling hooks.
1623. Markham, Eng. Housew., 100. A *Ling pie.
